Sam2,
I wasn’t referring to the Taz. I don’t think his chiddush of Chukas Hagoyim is universally accepted (see R’Moshe’s Teshuva on not wearing a kippah to work). My point is that minhagim are binding, albeit at a lower level than a d’rabbanan.
The Shulchan Aruch says “lo yelech.” Why does that sound like a middas chassidus to you? Especially, given the fact that the Magen Avraham and others comment on the Shulchan Aruch by saying “but less than 4 amos is a middas chassidus.”