Taxpayers also don't pay for NCOs to become robots either. Rather, NCOs need to balance discretion with the valid point you made about small falsehoods growing.
In his book
My American Journey, General Colin Powell described being an 2nd Lt and losing track of a weapon that he had been assigned. Powell actually left a .45 caliber pistol unattended in a temporary billet during a field excerize- and did not realize it for two days.
Under robotic thinking, Powell's career could have ended there as losing track of weapon is a grave offense- espescialy for an officer. Yet, the
non robotic Captain noted that Powell was an otherwise good officer and had high potential. He gave the weapon back to Powell with a verbal "
Don't let it happen again". The matter was closed.
General Powell states that he never forgot that incident. Powell also related that he applied the lesson he learned that day from the Captain through out his career.
In short, good NCOs are neither robots, nor push overs. Balancing the two can be challenging- but that is what makes good NCOs.
https://www.amazon.com/My-American-Journey-Colin-Powell/dp/0345466411
You are welcome, and Thank
you for your Service.