Are some folks actually doubtful that the game can work the way
@Charlaquin has been so patiently describing? Are they fearful that it is a lightly-concealed indictment of their own playstyle? Are they being difficult just for the sake of winning interweb points? I truly don't... understand... how understanding has been such a challenge to reach with some posters. A simple "ah, I see what you're doing there but that's just not my preference" goes a long way.
One theory is that some tables play 5e, at least partially, with holdover procedures from older versions of the game. I mean, what was fun in a past editions must work perfectly well in the current edition, right? And it can be really fun that way, I'm not saying it can't. However, the ideas of "approach and goal" with "reasonable specificity" aren't necessarily simpatico with older editions and, indeed, various mechanics and play techniques of older editions ported over to 5e aren't necessarily simpatico with "approach and goal" with "reasonable specificity". Now, I'm not claiming this way is the "right" way to play 5e - but I am saying that it is an interpretation of 5e that has worked exceedingly well at many different tables. And "exceedingly well" does not mean "better than" or "superior to" or any of that nonsense. It means I prefer it for our table and see that it works well for others.
If we all had the time to watch a stream of each others' games (if we all actually streamed, that is), I bet some subtle and some not-so-subtle stylistic differences would become rather obvious to the viewer and explain quite a lot of why there is so much pushback regarding what
@Charlaquin et al have been trying to communicate. I also bet (h/t
@el-remmen) that, for the most part, there would be many, many similarities to 5e game play at all our tables and we'd witness people having a good deal of immersive fun with this hobby we all love. That is all.
ETA: in case anyone desires an answer key... it can, it isn't, and the cake is a lie.