I read the argument that "my battery might be depleted in the middle of a once in a lifetime prolonged burst, costing me thé shot", and I cannot grasp that one would not check now and then and replace the battery timely when it is convenient (although I see it coming that some may say there is nó convenient moment to change a battery )
I agree 100%. Honestly, and I don't mean to sound harsh here, but to me when I see the kind of comment you mention, I feels like they come from an arm-chair nature nature photographer. I can't recall a single time replacing a battery came anywhere close to costing me a shot. The truth is, when we're out - even in productive places, we're just shooting the entire time - there are always gaps in the action. The only times I've missed shots due to dead batteries was when I was too shortsighted to put an extra in my pocket