Lol. That is what I love about this brewing community! Everyone has an opinion.
Let me simplify: "If you have weighed the issue carefully, and are willing to sign an affidavit stating that you prefer to rack to secondary, you can primary and secondary in the same vessel."Lol.
That said, I enjoy the commentary. Racking to secondary is to avoid off flavors that probably would not show up until 2 or more months of bulk conditioning....kinda like the possible "oxidation" that the haters of "better bottles" are so afraid of. But how many brews do you condition that long?
I have spoken to one home brewer who stated" I brew 30 gallon batches and drink it all before it is ready...."
Probably not the norm, but still we are all probably a little closer to that than to the guy who forgets his brew for 3 months and then suddenly remembers it and bottles it.
The moral? "Don't secondary, and gank 20 or so empty bottles from the water cooler". Glass isn't necessary and neither is secondary. But some of us go to unneccesary measures just because we are erring on the side of caution to make our beer the best it can be.........or to give us something to do because our lives are not full enough and racking to secondary seems like a labor of love that we are secretly happy to do.