I don't think we've met, WS if this is you... Warwick Slade

Yes, many guitarists do manage very well with little tuning, but this is usually because they are working alone so have no need to maintain conert pitch, or because they keep their strings in the same tuning, or never capo very far up the neck. But if you are not in this category, as a lot of folkies are, then tuning is a necessary evil, specially if you want to sing in tune over the top.