For one that would mean that Rand’s character development can be summarized as ‘Stopped angsting and is again nice guy. Oh, and he also has some more flashy powers.’ Well, it can be direction where books are going(and probably is), but I still think that after fusing with LTT – or to be more precise – after gaining proper access to his past memories he shouldn’t just be better at channeling.

As for Rand using Egwene to gather “the world” in a single location I’ll remind you that from those she gathered most were his followers. I’ll grant you that Borderlands rulers at the time of their conversation weren’t his followers, but he approached them and won them over on his own. The rest are:
1. his fellow ta’verens (of which one is on his side anyway – after they talked, what Egwene herself says) who he can find on his own (and even easier than Egwene could at that),
2. the wetland rulers not under Seanchan who, if actually rule anything have, Rand to thank for it. (Elayne, despite her claiming otherwise has more to thanks his benevolence than her birthright for becoming queen. And that’s only Andor I’m talking about. And on top of it she is also his lover and bares his children. Darlin is his vassal and king only by his good will – and Merana and co. ineptitude, but as he tasked them with negotiations in Tear after witnessing their monumental success with Seafolk I’d say by his own stupidity as well – and in such position that he can be replaced with some other High Lord or Lady. Alliandra was first to offer him support on her own and swear oath of fealty to his emissary and after all she’s been through is unlikely to oppose him especially as Perrin has already given him support),
3. Seafolk who made separate arrangement with him and are traditionally vary of White Tower (and made agreement that their leader will answer to his summon ),
4. Aiel who are first nation to follow him voluntary and amongst nations are one closest to him.
Last remaining significant fraction, Seanchan, are by all she knows sworn enemies of Tower and she can’t influence them. Although she probably considers them another enemy with which there is no peace rather than possible (even necessary) ally.

(I haven’t read ToM yet and have gathered this from discussions here, but I don’t think that I left out anyone; in fact I’m not sure how much were last two groups involved. If I’ve mixed something up please correct me. Also can you please tell me more of Aiel and Seafolk involvement in that meeting if they are actually participating )

Now, if he wanted them gathered wouldn’t it been more expedient to actually call them himself? He certainly has enough followers able to Travel to provide transport for them all without straining his resources. That would, actually, be a wise think to do: during course of the story Egwene tended to be in opposition to him on principle of, well, being in opposition to him and generally thinking she knew better and evidently he didn’t share that opinion. Now he’ll walk in council summoned to persuade him to not go through with his plan rather than in one which would discus it. You say “LTT is Aes Sedai to the bone and he can argue with best of them” but shouldn’t someone who has centuries of experiences in politics be aware of advantages of home field? Shouldn’t someone who was leader in war and faced extremely strong opposition know that giving political rival practically free rein to lobby against you is very bad idea? I would agree with you that Rand should make WT stand openly with its politics but by not communicating with his followers when Egwene is trying to sway them he risks of losing them regardless how good he can argue. So I really fail to see how he outsmarted Egwene.

Also, as he now has access to memories of centuries old politician and supreme commander in era of planetary war which had fronts the size of what was to him 3 years ago a whole world you would think that he came to understand importance of establishing clear chain of command and actually organizing military and civilian institutions to work through.

And to ad this as last: we might not have seen all events that transpired before said gathering, indeed, all plotlines will have some catching up to do, and we certainly could see Egwene making important actions, but at a time when Borderlands are under attack from Blight when Shadowspawn attacked unleast one capital of southern nation and is evidently pouring through Ways is it really good idea to demand from national leaders to move their armies around Tar Valon?