Completely agreed. Software engineering is not mature yet itself, so pretending to be all-mature about it by sticking to 30-year old rigid "best practices" can

Completely agreed. Software engineering is not mature yet itself, so pretending to be all-mature about it by sticking to 30-year old rigid "best practices" can be counter-productive at best. People sometimes forget that new techniques might be more robust and safe than old ones, as various insights have been gained over the years. Your other point is also good. The technology to choose depends on the domain. Web startups and airplanes/weapons being the extremes. There is no feelgood overall advice that applies to everyone.