Right, but the discussion is whether or not creating a test is the essential starting point for all development. It's important to not conflate testing with TDD

Right, but the discussion is whether or not creating a test is the essential starting point for all development. It's important to not conflate testing with TDD. I don't think testing is polarizing. TDD, though, certainly has its advocates and detractors. Plenty of others have noted the consultancy influence on the matter, so I'll skip that and just say that I've encountered this phenomenon several times. When the consultant or new VPE or DirE or whatever comes in and says it's TDD time, and when there is dissent, you see this "So you're against testing?" play. That's not useful.