His argument is"why have a seat belt installed in your car? Just drive carefully."

No, searching out and removing all objects from the ground each time you pitch is not a viable alternative to using a footprint if you want to maximize the lifespan of your tent floor before it develops holes.

The footprint doesn't just protect your tent floor. It is also there to protect your inflatable sleeping mat.

And you don't need to pay $100 for a branded footprint.