Indeed SOPs are just they way that the Manufacturer of the aircraft and the company that operates the aircraft mandates that you fly them. Much discussion here about being stable at 500 feet, yet who decided that was the appropriate gate? Was it the SOP? Why not 600 feet or 400 feet? Those busy vilifying those who stick to SOPs, what other information do you think is merely for the guidance of wise men and the adherence of fools? There are very few test pilots amongst us, yet the test pilots I have flown with we're very much by the book, using SOPs to stay out of trouble. The really gifted aviators seldom need to demonstrate their gifts to others just because they can.