I agree that deciding what's superfluous fluff and what's not is entirely subjective and that it should be an artist's freedom to decide how he expresses himsel

I agree that deciding what's superfluous fluff and what's not is entirely subjective and that it should be an artist's freedom to decide how he expresses himself. However King's advice was written in the context of how to write successfully and I have little doubt that the average reader prefers brief rather than quaint wording that drives the story forward.