You seem to be arguing that 'easier' is the equivalent of 'essential'. Am I reading your posts correctly?

I built my 1st wheels using my bike as the truing gauge. I got the wheels built faster and for a LOT less money than if I had waited for a truing stand. I had a shop check the wheels out. They told me they charged from $4-$20 to true a wheel (1980 price), and they expected it would cost me $20. They charged me $4/wheel, and I got a few 1000 miles out of the wheels, at which point the bike was stolen..

The economics are much less favorable for a one-off wheel builder now, with new, machine-made wheels available for not much more than the cost of spokes alone - but at least some novices can build a good wheel with a minimal toolset.

With hubs and rims already on hand, why not give it a try?