Cycling as a pursuit is an exercise in wants. There are no needs, because the entire activity is optional-- a person could go from the cradle to the grave without ever touching feet to pedals and live an undiminished life.
So as has been stated (by myself included) a power meter is not a necessity. Nothing accessory related to cycling is a necessity, that's why they're accessories. Wants, not needs.
Where an issue occurs is where certain parties start to forward the notion that the collection/analysis of data somehow threatens the Zen of cycling as a pursuit. The tacit suggestion that anyone who dares take cycling away from it's origins in purity is doing it wrong.
This thread has already started drifting in that direction.
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