I think the issue isn't with the methodology (disabling cache), but rather the erroneous conclusion that the React.dev website continually requests data as some

I think the issue isn't with the methodology (disabling cache), but rather the erroneous conclusion that the React.dev website continually requests data as somehow problematic when it's a sideeffect of disabling browser cache. Also, FWIW, OP is one of the authors of react.dev and a member of the react core team (not that it's relevant to the objection).