This photo illustrates the problem with many fenders: they don’t protect the parts that actually benefit from staying clean - like the chain, chainrings, bottom bracket, pedals, etc. This one apparently only protected the down tube, which is easy to clean and unharmed by a little mud.

I’m not anti-fender- I just finished a ride on one of my fendered bikes. But to really be worthwhile, the front fender needs to come down close enough so that, with a flap attached, you have coverage to within just two or 3 inches of the pavement. Otherwise, all the junk that sprays off the front wheel ends up right where you don’t want it. Like in this photo.

And living here in the middle of gravel cycling country, I guess I forget that the term means different things to different people. If you’re riding on crushed limestone paths or similarly tame roads, sure, run fenders if you want. Out here, though, no one runs them on gravel.