[zalambar]

The attitude I see is that detailed plans can be dangerous but that not having a plan does not mean you should not have a process. I think this often comes from Steve Blank's definition that "a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model". In that context you cannot know what your business model should be. Instead you have a set of theories or assumptions about what might work and your process should be to validate (or invalidate) those as early and efficiently as possible. The lean startup process has a similar focus on working toward "validated learning" about the market and your product.

I think business plans are perceived as risky because they contain assumptions which may be treated as axioms instead of questions. Instead of leaning and reacting the business starts to try to conform to the "known" plan and it is very difficult to consistently resolve cognitive dissonance between the plan and reality in favor of reality.

How many pieces of that 8 step plan are actually relevant while searching for a business model?

Of course not businesses need to fit that definition. If you are not searching for a model then hopefully you have a very good plan.