I don't see it has playing a big role myself. Unless you are aiming yo rp a character that way. For example if I created a genin character and wanted to stay as closer to canon genin as I could.
Really it doesn't matter at this point though. It has simply became the SL style of fighting. Some don't like it but really I do t see ikt changing.
For me it kinda makes things more fun.
In my opinion, this has partially become a metagame. For example as to what I mean by that, the Pokemon metagame involves picking any Pokemon you want, from any game, and having them be lvl100 with a choice moveset, nature, stats, everything.
This is the same, you get to choose your KG, and even make up abilities (like Kenton) to explore every combative option that the universe in which we play will allow. Chakra pretty quickly fell out because it's a fairly considerable "limit" when it comes to the things that I personally throw around at least.
And also, how do you measure some of these techniques? My fight with Ryoji I did this crazy pressure-based move. What's the chakra cost there? Well, it could be argued to cost a ridiculous amount and also almost none at all, and I don't want to go into the details but I could easily argue both.
Buuuut why? Why get into that kind of a debate? I think it subtracts from the challenge of beating Ryoji with intelligence, techniques and plans that matter more than "well u spent 2 much nrg so ur ded lol".
But like you said, if I wanted to play a genin then I would limit myself with what I could do, for plot's or character's sake.
EDIT: By the way, if you want to play the Pokemon metagame, it does exist. I can link it to anyone who wants it I don't think I'm just allowed to link other sites. Maybe I'm wrong.