[tptacek]

It does matter what the dissertation says if it becomes an orthodoxy, and people follow it to the letter as a way of deferring to expert opinion on how to design APIs. Deferring to expert opinion usually is, and always should be, a good plan. Here, it's a little interesting to discuss whether that's the case.

[BlackFly]

I would say it always should be a good plan to defer to expert rationale but not opinion. I expect my experts to explain the benefits and drawbacks of following best practices not just assert that something is a best practice. When somebody follows my advice without asking why they should, I start to worry they aren't thinking critically and realize that now all the onus is on me to understand whether the shoe actually fits.