By "arbitrarily take on debt for years", are they referring to myth that you need to carry a balance on a credit card to help your credit score?

If you aren't aware, that is very much incorrect. All you're doing is lining the pockets of the credit card company. Pay your credit card statement in full each month and don't carry a balance to avoid paying interest.

There are certain exceptions, but I'm considering them out of scope for this case.

I refuse to participate in this and I have no idea what my credit score is.

I bought my land and house through owner finance, my debt was to a single individual. No banks involved, no credit check. Obviously this isn't always an option, but it still is an option in some cases, and it's a damn valuable option when it does present itself.

I buy used cars only, either through owner finance or paid in full. No banks.

I have never had a loan from a bank.

Your "score" is only there to sell you more score. This is the side effect of being able to access your own credit history (how very generous of them)

Every lender has their own criteria, and uses your credit history to generate their own score.

Unpopular opinion, not really opinion but...

Credit score system is designed for the people with money to allow you to borrow that money. It's based on a curve system so... If your at the bottom of the list is because 99% of the population is better than you at learning how to play the score system. Tldr: the score system was not designed with me in mind.