There is low-level code that is as you describe, and low-level programmers who write it. Probably if printf is involved, it's not that "low level". Maybe this

There is low-level code that is as you describe, and low-level programmers who write it. Probably if printf is involved, it's not that "low level". Maybe this needs printf for a test suite, and talloc doesn't call it itself? Maybe there is also a way to run talloc in some verbose mode? I'm not familiar with it.