Those optional tree spirits guard modifiers for your one off special effects flask, which is a pretty big deal for the game and not a mechanic you want to optionally leave behind.

Not to mention, you dont know what modifier the tree has until its dead, so without googling everything you cant skip trees whose drops you dont want.

Something like 80% of elden ring is optional content. If youre only allowed to be frustrated or annoyed by main plot progression content, youve basically asked for people to not talk about the game.

Seems like a pretty supid line in the sand to draw