I make no excuses, I do it way too much, I’ve used it in bands and it’s unfortunately like a default setting at times.
I absolutely can play other styles, and I do lots of that too.
I completely agree it’s done to death. But to me it’s just the same as a pick, finger style or using an ebow...a sound/style/technique.
There are quite a few YouTube/Instagram players who do it to an extent I find moderately offensive - only because it’s thrown at every song and is their “thing”.
It’s like chocolate. Nice to have every now and then, but will make you sick eventually if you binge on it.
I certainly don’t get the “slap is crap” mentality - just like I would never Deride a pick style player (Bobby Vega/Cody Wright?). And so on.