IMHO, sidestepping is an important skill
when it matters. In other words, when there is a potential OS decision to be made, sidestepping is the only way to be well positioned, square to the field, in order to make a skilled call. But when there is no potential impeding call to make, who cares? I
suspect that the professional AR talking to
@cwyeary wasn't
criticizing so much as pointing out that it is unnecessary. Just as players sprint when they need to and jog or walk when they don't, I think ARs should crab/sidestep when they need to and use less physically challenging modes (jog/walk) when there is no impending OS issue to worry about.
Of course, anyone being told to sidestep unnecessarily because that is what the powers that be want needs to follow those instructions to advance.