We don't disagree so I'm beating a dead horse and adding something that I don't think was clear (probably a language thing so more my fault than yours). If disc minimalism is a separate thing from mold minimalism, it's important to note that as a learning tool the goal is the same. The goal is for you to work angles and execute shots so that you learn how what you are doing effects the flight of the disc.I agree with what you wrote and how you explained things. IMO it's important to separate the terms mold minimalism and dics minimalism, because they are different things. They are orthogonal. I don't like people say ``mold minimalism'' and talk about throwing different angels. These two things have nothing to do with each other. Clarity is necessary for real understanding.
The Garu bag starts with four discs in four molds (i.e. disc minimal, and absolutely seen mold minimal but relatively seen mold maximal). Then it proposes to start adding multiples of the same molds, i.e. no more disc minimalism but then absolute and relative mold minimalism. Garublador carries the same thinking as Blake_T. They both were active on the DGR forums.
Disc minimalism is more a style of living than a final bag for playing the best disc golf possible. It can help becoming better but most likely it is not what you should continue to do if you advance and want to compete as high as possible. More discs ease more lines. You don't have to force it as much. But a (not too unimportant) part of the game is having fun and playing the way that fits yourself. Some like crowded houses, owning a lot of things, generally having a lot of stuff in their lifes, others rather like empty rooms, owning few stuff, going lightweight in life. Their disc golf bag only reflects their lifestyle, their character, what is important to them and what is not. Because they feel good they play better. If you feel good bagging 25 discs, fine. If you feel good playing with only three discs in the hand, also fine.
The thread starter asked for insights. Insights are personal and thus controversal. He got them. There need not to be a solution or agreement.
The thing that is important to me is using different terms for different things, i.e. having the language match the underlying structure. I don't care if mold minimalism is ``better'' than disc minimalism, I just want them to be called differently because they are different things. Some practice the former, some the latter. Some do it generally and long-term, some only temporary.
For myself, the above quote of Three Putt fits well in the way that I practice disc minimalism for fun and personal challenge, plus it just fits my character and way of life. Competition, especially against others!, is not why I play disc golf. I simply want to get the best out of whatever disc I throw. I don't suggest it for competing on a high level ... unless you are an exception like Crazy John Brooks or sonny.
Easy example: I wrist roll a lot. Before I tried mold minimalism, I'd roll my wrist and then blame disc selection for my bad shot. Mold minimalism made me a lot more in tune with what I'm doing, so instead of walking off the course frustrated not knowing why everything turned over and I threw +20 I now can figure out after a few shots that I'm rolling my wrist open and start making adjustments before I turn over every shot I take all day. I'll get out of there with a better score and I'll know what I need to work on.
Both disc minimalism and mold minimalism will teach you that.
Mold minimalism goes farther than disc minimalism, though. You end up with overstable/stable/understable versions of discs and you learn how each of them reacts when you throw with hyzer/flat/anhyzer and the mysteries of the flex shot and hyzer flip are there. Throwing the same neutral disc on a flex or hyzer flip doesn't really illustrate what weapons those shots are IMO.
So as a learning tool, if they are separate things I'd have to say disc minimalism is incomplete mold minimalism. Disc minimalism starts the process, but stops where mold minimalism moves on.
On the other hand, as a personal challenge there is a greater obstacle to utilizing the same disc for a flex and hyzer flip so if you can do that there would be a higher level of Frisbee zen achieved. If you already know the shots and are adopting mold minimalism or disc minimalism as a personal challenge (either with the goal to improve or just because challenge is what drives you) the inverse is true. Mold minimalism is incomplete disc minimalism. in that case, which one you would adopt would depend on how big a challenge you want to bite off.
Basically if you are going to adopt these strategies, you need to know why you are doing it and what you want to get out of it. For me I wanted to stop throwing +20 with no idea why and mold minimization was the ticket out. For you it's the personal zen challenge of mastering the angles and disc minimization does that better.