That school of thought is not unlike believing in the Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny. Controllers, as a group, live in a world that is tilted a tad off vertical.
That's why I didn't state it as fact, but left it open to individual judgement. I will say this though--rather than the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny, let's consider Santa Claus. While his physical existence is doubtful, he has plenty of imitators, and there's no questioning the fact that his policies are embodied in the practice of the holiday.
On edit:
or use a bit of technology
rather than lotsa controllers scattered over the back of beyond controlling zippo planes, why not at night use some technology so that one controller does, say, ten airports at night from some remote location. That way he/she has enough activity to stay awake and the cost savings would be enormous. If the remote relay breaks switch to uncontrolled status..
For (what I consider to be), some very well thought out and very well expressed opinion on that topic, may I recommend the blog,
Praxis Foundation . The most recent entry has to do with this topic, but many of the past entries deal with the very topic you've raised.
All I'll add is that to begin to employ such technology on the midnight shift will ineviably lead to its use around the clock.