Avi, The fact that it’s well known doesn’t make it true. If it is not really necessary then it is bal tashchis. You are right that some great people grow to such proportions that legends spring up about them that aren’t always accurate. But at least they are usually the kind of story that if it were true, would reflect an inspiring character trait that the person in question actually truly had, rather than portraying them as silly enough to believe that an unnecessary act of bal tashchis is really a praisworthy chumra!
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