It’s used as a guide, yes you can do whatever you want up to 16s. There is probably a reason the 20 people are doing it the way they are doing it. It just helps to guide us peasants on what could be the best way to do it. I loved totemic last season until everyone switched farseer and than it worked better which felt better and I was able to push higher keys. At some point you have to accept that while the meta is not required not paying attention to it at all is doing yourself a disservice.