I get exactly what you mean Dabber.
Just my 2 cents worth here, so I could get shot down by the experts.
But I love shortcuts, as long as they don't drastically affect the outcome. When I first started this hobby, I would do everything as close to "the book" as I could. However, some years down the track, I often find myself questioning some of the suggested optimums, in some situations, experimenting with NOT following the ideals and seeing for myself if there is a significant difference, if any at all.
One example springs to mind: Defoliate or not to defoliate?
But some will say it's science, right? And, some would say I'm just lazy, tired, whatever, who cares :laugh: , but at times, I'm just over it, and a willingness to try something out of the ordinary has always been me :laugh: .
I have been told that a flush does not mean NO food at all, and that I should still run CalMag till the end, (DWC), which I do, and to be honest, I haven't noticed a difference in the end product, I just do it coz I heard it somewhere

.
I reckon the best way to find out is to try experimenting, possibly a side-by-side grow with one plant as the experiment and the other to "the book", and one would think the outcome would give you the real answer?
But then I suppose someone's gonna say, "there are too many variables".
Phew!!!!! what to do aye???