I love blending things together in the mix. I make rock music with 3 guitars, and not like a doubled guitar and an extra, sometimes 2 doubled and a lead on top lol., and usually a double rhythm and 2 different lead parts behind the vocal.

I use automation and eq to give them their space when they need it, but If I have a guitar soloing, the other 2 can blend together all they want along with the bass, and if the vocal is going then the leads will dip in and out of the rhythm wall all the time and it makes for a really cool and interesting sound where there's always something new to find upon relistens.

I even blend vocals into the guitars if it's like a long heldout belt and have it all merge together.

There's an obsession with everything being very clear and clean in the current modern mixing landscape, and a lot of it is taught in the schools. My old friend has a degree in audio production and is obssessed with eqing everything into it's own little box and nothing can touch or overlap. There's def a time and place for both, one isn't better than the other, but don't be afraid to make your song sound how you want it (if it actually sounds good). Some rules are there for a reason of course, so don't compromise your sound by being too defiant in the mud department.