Three things (four if you add the fact that I am now believing that you're an obvious troll):
1) Hightower was not staying in front of the center/long snapper. He was hovered there momentarily to get the play call in to everyone. This was confirmed by multiple sources when reviewing the tape, including NFL VP of officiating Dean Blandino. The only way it would've been a penalty as you suggest is if the ball was snapped while Hightower was lined up there.
2) The refs and league do this for everyone...all 32 teams. Even if Hightower would've ended up stayed there (which he obviously wasn't), the ref tapping him as a reminder to shift is something that is done for everyone. No special treatment would have been received. This was confirmed by NYJ coach Rex Ryan, the on field official who tapped him prematurely, as well as VP of officiating Blandino.
3) Even if you're correct and Hightower would've done something wrong, the call would only have been 5 yards. Last time I checked, they ended up blocking the kick anyway, and even if they hadn't a 53 yard FG in Foxborough isn't exactly more than a 50/50 proposition at best. Lots of things would have had to happen for us to "thank" the refs in any form.