There's always going to be people using 1,800 different nutrients and additives to grow a plant when a single part nutrient will work just as well.
I think this is an "all-or-nothing" viewpoint, really.
In reality, there is almost no question that there are benefits to be gleaned from certain additives and amendments (and there is plenty of empirical research out there to support this).
I'd make one small, but significant, correction to what you said here:
Instead of saying:
"...to grow a plant when a single part nutrient will work just as well."
I think it should really say
"...to grow a plant when a single part nutrient will work."
If we're going to split hairs, there are innumerable articles and studies which suggest adding this or that for plant growth has beneficial consequences--whereas there are
absolutely zero that say what' you're saying (essentially that none of these additives/extras make a difference).
In your haste to decry those who would bandwagoneer on hippy science (which I agree with you is a common and growing problem)--you've done exactly the thing you've suggested that they should not.
You've made a claim with no support, no data, no empiricism--and unfortunately you've done it:
1. While saying others should.
and most importantly
2. In the face of what virtually all of the empirical data that
does exist tells us.
My intention isn't to dig on you about it, to be clear about that. It's just, hey--if we're gonna be sticklers, let's be sticklers.