I would expect any storage array to recommend a full backup any time you are messing with the physical disks. even "production ready" features one would not ad

I would expect any storage array to recommend a full backup any time you are messing with the physical disks. even "production ready" features one would not add, remove, or do anything with the array with out a full backup. "Production" systems should not even be considered production unless you have a backup of them,