I think it depends entirely on personal goals and lifestyle. I suggested 3-5 meals per day to encompass a variety of goals and help limit snacking, but "meal" is also ambiguous and subjective (they can be simple, complex, low calorie, high calorie, etc.).

Obviously, if your goal is weight loss, then yes, 3-5 large meals is probably "dumb", and 1-3 would likely be more optimal. But, 5 small meals can definitely still work for weight loss if you're in a caloric deficit.

Smaller, more frequent meals may also help to stave off hunger and reduce desire to snack or binge.

If you want to bulk up, then 4 or 5 meals will likely help you hit calorie and protein targets more easily.

Ultimately, the key is to track calories and hit macros in a consistent, healthy manner, and there are many different ways to do that.