I believe that when you are piecing, you HAVE to have the R talks. I'm pretty sure that 25 will agree, although by all means disagree if you do not 25.
For me, without the R talks, its like burying your head in the sand.
I just caution that they be few, and level headed clear when you have them, and not to allow emotion to dictate their direction.
Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn. - C.S. Lewis
Life is usually all about how you handle Plan B. - Jack3Beans
Listen without defending; Speak without offending - FaithinAK