I also think there is a difference between what they say they do and what they do. It seems you are focusing on the former, while I am focusing on the latter.

I also think there is a difference between what they say they do and what they do. It seems you are focusing on the former, while I am focusing on the latter. Consider someone who is upholding a tradition. They may give you an explanation which may not do it justice. That is not to say all traditions are relevant or useful, but I think that there is a possibility that a tradition can go beyond the scope of an individual's awareness, and copying is often far cheaper than rebuilding from scratch and working through trial and error.