I’m not cutting corners. I’m just alpha enough to try what the salespage explicitly suggests the bold ones to try. 
I’m ENTP. I’m supposed to try stupid experiments. 
Guys, all your doubts are coming from the Stages Mentality.
I’m not averse to using any of the stage-files as needed. I just start at Stage 4 for the reason mentioned earlier.
Only Khan & EOG Stage 4s are said to lack the healing scripting – making it somewhat necessary to use previous stages.
The stage 4s of AL, QL, EF, and DR contain the previous stages – so you’re not actually missing any scripting.
So, the only real problem is "Can you handle the volume/density of the stage 4 scripts?"
You may think of a Stage 4 as being a sub with 1 major Core + 3 smaller Cores, integrated and streamlined.
Now …
Will it be beneficial to run Asc, Mogul, SMX, and Limitless BEFORE playing Emperor? YES.
Is it necessary? No.
Will it be beneficial to run Asc, Mogul, SMX, Limitless, S&S, Primal, DD, PS and Emperor BEFORE playing Khan? YES.
Will anyone other than AMASH ever do it? Probably Not. 
Similarly…
Will it be beneficial to run the stages in order? Of Course.
Is it absolutely necessary? Will it fail if you don’t? Hmm! 

So …
Don’t try so hard to make this into a fixed set of rules. 
The official guidelines suggest that you follow stages – for at least a month each.
They also suggest that you be comfortable experimenting.
Just don’t come here and say the product doesn’t work.
Try stuff out. Be smart. Do what makes sense. Figure out what works for you. 
And report back what worked. 