They argue it's necessary. My truck runs fine skipping it.
Tracing the ground connection solved months of random dashboard lights.
I always avoided newer trucks with all the sensors and computer stuff, thinking it was just extra hassle. Then I had to fix a friend's F-150 with a lane assist fault, and the manual walk-through online made it simple. Seeing how the system talks to the phone app for codes changed my whole approach. Now I look for those jobs because they pay well and folks around here need help with them. The culture is shifting where even old school guys are learning this tech to stay busy. It convinced me that adapting is better than sticking to what you know.
Years ago, we used to fix cars by listening and feeling. Now, if the computer doesn't show a code, some techs give up. I spent hours on a car that shook at idle, but all tests passed. How do we keep those hands-on skills alive with all this new tech?