This is indeed a subject that has been discussed to death. But even so, a few comments...
In my experience people fall into two groups - Artists and Technicians.
To an Artist the end justifies the means.
To a Technician the means is everything and the end isn't really important.
This is, of course, a very broad generalisation.
I wonder if anyone has stood beneath the ceiling of the Cistine chapel and thought 'it's not very good really - Michaelangelo has enhanced the colours a bit and I think he used the wrong brush for God's beard'.
I don't think so. So why do it to Photography?
Comparing an Artistic pursuit to carpentry is very misleading. The outcome of the later is generally intended to be practical. The outcome of former is, hopefully, Art which has no practical value whatsoever.
At the end of the day the only thing that matters is the reason why you do what you do. Whatever aspect of Photography you choose to explore it should give you pleasure (if it brings pleasure to others, even better) but you should never look down your nose at others who take a different route to the same goal. We are all brothers with a common interest and we all have something to contribute - and we can all learn from each other.