>>3503261I agree, bokeh is mostly a meme. Subject isolation and correct exposure aren't though. Neither is having the appropriate dof for your subject to be in focus, even just some elements for emphasis. This is tied to distance and focal length, so it changes. Also, variable lighting conditions make aperture useful.
Aperture is very important. Letting your camera randomly walk between f/2.8 and f/22 isn't a very good idea because it drastically affects your photos. You should be after a specific outcome, not leaving it to chance. Look at your backgrounds, how far behind the subject they are, how busy it is, what the light is doing, how much dof your subject requires, etc.
