A puzzling discussion, as if freedom to explore 100+ merit badge topic areas and associate with adult experts was contrary to aims of Scouting.
What of those scouts who earn elective merit badges and have no interest in rank advancement as they find some of those required merit badges a waste of time and money? I have a few of those, they have found their joy in scouting. My older son was one. He didn't earn Eagle or even Star, so what, the aims of Scouting were more than fulfilled with him without the Advancement Method.
In my misspent youth in Scouting, I earned Woodwork, Chemist