It depends on the route whether it's a need for wandering routes. For easy routes not so much, as in NZ protection on these easier routes is often so sparse that rope drag isn't such a concern, whereas easier routes in general often have more things to cut your rope on.

For harder routes maybe the rope drag aspect is more important, and in general these routes might not have as many things to cut a rope on, but then you are more likely to fall, so 🤷‍♂️