It is not necessary to draw a sharp line that clearly divides everything before saying “this is too far” about something that has, in fact, gone too far.
Good question. Maybe not cook, but consider someone who picked just the right ingredients and preparation for a sandwich. Combining flavors and textures in novel ways that are as surprising as they are delicious. I would ascribe more of the creative credit to that person vs. the one cutting the bread.
So you are taking the ridiculousness of calling someone a 'sandwich artisen' (slapping together assembly line type products is slapping together assembly line type products) but trying to spin it into a positive label?