Yeah, a big problem with skill challenges, which even in DMG are designed to be fast and loose and reward creativity, was that a significant chunk of the adventures didn't understand that in year one.What part of "skill challenges replaced out of combat" did you not understand? Yes, too many rules for out of combat activities is not a good thing in my opinion.
As an easy example, in a skill challenge, you can use any skill you want — roll hard DC and you get a success. Yet you'd have a Fighter with an 8 Cha winning initiative in year 1 skill challenges and the only relevant skills listed for success were say Diplomacy and Bluff in a scene. According to DMG, that Fighter can use say Athletics to impress the people — do a feat of strength or clear a blockage or do something helpful, etc...yet many DMs wouldn't have read the DMG Skill Challenge section, look at the adventure saying nope, only these two skills count, and force the 8 Charisma Fighter to roll Diplomacy.