This has been going on for at least 120 years. PH Emerson was adamant that pictures were taken, not made. Made pictures, a la HP Robinson, were anathema to Emerson. Photography is about about seeing, it is not painting. He went on at substantial length.
Robinson felt that you made the things. Anything goes as long as it looks True in the end. Arguably he was not entirely successful at this. And, to be honest, I think the author of the essay also fails to produce results which look True.
In this modern age sensible people have dropped the debate entirely. Do what you will. Fussing about the process is a waste of time, and claiming that your process is Correct and Virtuous while other processes are not is not only silly but rude.