Not only "in the heads" when you've been reading this kind of statements in a so called Professional Pilots forum:
Posted by 8Che :
Let me extend this to runway stop bars. They are activated by the same ATC guy at his own discretion. Would you also say stopping here is optional ?

In complex airspace or airports, safety is based on certain regulations and rules that must be followed . Period. Safety is not only for you and your aircraft, it is definitively that of the others around you too.

That's the law, not chest beating.

Stop bars - as optional as voice requests.

I think some of you are getting the wrong idea. We don't fly around ignoring you just because we feel like it - in fact it's a (very) rare occurrence and when it happens it's because the alternative is safer.