I have sympathy for both sides in this discussion, on the one hand constant repetition of what is plainly in front of you can be a bit tiresome, but. . . the 738 can sometimes change modes without any obvious warning. My current pet hate is the transition between the required mode of VNav PTH & VNav SPD, which, given our increasing reliance on this mode for intermediate & final approaches, is one you don't want to miss. One could argue that monitoring of the path deviation "should" alert you before this becomes a problem, but, I really wonder whether Boeing haven't dropped a clanger here by not giving a msg via the CDU akin to "VNav disconnect", that you are now in an unprotected (vertically at least) mode.
In an ideal world minimum is best,but it is sometimes useful when distracted, to have someone remind you what is happening. Given the number of overuns caused by late /non selection of reverse/speedbrakes I think Boeing had no choice in these calls becoming the norm, personally, I am in agreement with them, even if we are calling a "normal" as opposed to a "non-normal". . . . Landing on a short slippery runway is not the time to be glancing down to check if all that is gonna save your @ss is deployed/available. . like "autobrake-disarm" it can make the difference between following the landing by taxying/swimming.