That NEED be applied? No, I don't believe it. The use of tools in any craft is always optional. One of the thiings that happens in an academic journey is the realization that all those 'rules' are only guides that represent the past experience of others. Including your professors who are most likely biased toward a particular style. Who may, or may not , know better than you do.

But I never did well in arts courses. I resented the one ethics course I had to take as a graduate student b/c it kept me out of the lab. My Dept head nearly failed me b/c I wasn't showing up. So I caved; went to the bare minimum of classes to pass & brought a book to read.

So I may not be the best person to have this argument with.