The ONLY person that is required for judging my beer is ME> I brew beer to drink not to please some judge somewhere I never met. If there is no flavor benefit from decoction, then WHY do we have to add malts as you suggested to GET the flavors of a decocted beer?
I brew two beers with some frequency and have for a number of years - because each has its fans in my circle and because I like both of the and always find them a fun conversation piece with both other brewers and the uninitiated alike. THese are both simply 11 pounds of Pilsner, lager yeast. One is brewed with American hops, one is brewed with noble hops. The "American" versions gets a 90 min mash, and 90 min boil. The "Euro" version is a triple decoction. I vary the yeast at times, and I vary the hops at times often based on what is on hand at the time, but I always brew both together and with the same yeast at the same time.
Aside from differences you are going to get with different hops flavors - there is a marked difference in body, mouth feel, and flavor between the two. If there was NOTHING happening with a decoction where does it come from? And believe me I would not waste my time if it WAS NOT there. I am fairly sure the mouthfeel, and body differences did not come from those hop changes and I am really sure the flavor differences that are usually noted did not. The difference between these beers has always been so noticeable that people have a really hard time accepting that they are essentially the same beer. Bear in mind the hop additions are ALL bittering no flavor or aroma additions and about 35 IBU in both cases. So they are very close beers that virtually everyone who has tried them has picked as NOTABLY different beers. None of that really matters - I personally like both beers so I make them. I personally enjoy time spent brewing, and I am rarely ever in a hurry to rush through the brew day, Decoctions offer a pleasant extra to the day when I am only brewing a single beer - or makes a nice extra step if I am brewing with buddies. Something for everyone to do and try.
Now i do not have to drink your beers. And I do not have to participate in your brew sessions. I cannot speak for the time you have to/ want to spend on beer. If you do not want to spend extra time on more steps that hurts me not. You are welcome to believe whatever you want to believe when it comes to what makes your beer tasty to you. BUT when you rationalize your choice by flippantly dismissing the process, AND backhandedly denigrate and dismiss ANYONE who chooses to use that process as ignorant and misinformed, as you do on the closing of your OP - I do take offense at that. The argument over the practice is quite valid and interesting. It was not/ is not necessary to attempt to validate your point by accusing those who don't share it of ignorance and rationalization themselves.