From my perspective, critical thinking is one of if not the most important things to learn, so I agree with you there.

It sounds like you have only been in appropriately staffed and scoped jobs for your 25 years, which is great. I've personally found myself in much leaner roles where check-ins happen weekly and there's too much to do and not enough bandwidth to ensure everything is happening as it should. That's why my ability to critically think and follow directions allowed me to succeed. I would have failed otherwise.

I would not be the manager in that example but I have worked with those that would react this way.