Even so, the whole thing is a circle and the end is at the beginning. We often like to think of linear progress as leaving behind beginner things and advancing to expert things, but where does meditation really begin?
Morality is the cornerstone, and where a foundation is laid solid a stable structure may be supported. However, in meditation practice we lay a foundation first with the sila vows, but morality is integral to sentience itself and we always return to reinforce the foundation.
Meditation as insight meditation, mindfulness, vipassana or a rose by any other name is for the sake of insight under the premise that "the truth will set you free". As J Krishnamurti puts it, "it is the the truth that liberates; not your efforts to be free".
This 'truth' pertains to wisdom rather than knowledge, and I think this distinction was portrayed well in the movie "The Peaceful Warrior". The dialogue follows:
Socrates: Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.
Dan: Yeah? What's the difference?
Socrates: You know how to clean a windshield, right?
Dan: Yeah.
Socrates: Wisdom is doing it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwlL7L7OoEc
Point being, wisdom comes with a deeper sense of morality.