hey jonathan, most teachers tell you what to do and why you're doing it, but if you can figure out how the fundamentals apply to what you want to learn, that's wisdom you gain for yourself.
having that skill is pretty invaluable to me.
of course it definitely helps to understand how basic techniques (like swing strums) apply to a more advanced, complex techniques, but tomo does explain all of this in each of the theory videos.
i'd recommend you go through the videos several times over, even if you already know it. i found there's always more to learn each time i rewatch the music theory i videos.
for example, the harmonic minor video helped me understand why tomo held back on explaining how the scale is used in application: https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/music-theory-i/videos/theory-15-harmonic-minor
it helped me learn to simply trust what i'm given, and know that a deeper explanation/understanding will come later down the road.
anyway, here's my attempt to help you understand where all of this is leading you...
clean playing helps you develop the right technique, so when you're performing, you're maximizing the efficiency of your playing in a way that protects you from injury and allows you to move quickly across the fretboard.
messy playing can be a style, but it's easier to intentionally play messy by learning to play cleanly first than it is to try to go from a bad habit of messy playing to clean playing. do-able, but it's not going to be very fun :)
practicing scales helps you understand the colors and feeling behind each of the notes so you can apply that to your solo'ing and rely more on feeling, rather than positions.
understanding the triads can help you quickly learn notes all over the fretboard (and in what order) so you can play single notes and mix it with triads. triads are also great so you can still play guitar with a band, especially when there's a keyboard or bass player. knowing the pocket in which you can play is a skill you develop through triads.
triads also set the foundation for arpeggios. an arpeggio can be broken down into a series of triads, and learning these can help you develop sweeping techniques as well as far more interesting solo techniques.
all of these stem from learning the foundations.
i get the urge to see the full picture, but with all the students tomo teaches, it's challenging. everybody has different goals and desires. you may not be interested in sweeping, but you might be interested in spicing up your blues solos.
too much talk can block real learning because it's EASY to listen to what the teacher teaches you... it's HARD to take those concepts to see what you can discover for yourself.
i think part of the journey is learning to put the puzzle pieces together for yourself based on your goals. it can be fun as well :) and it doesn't rely on a teacher to explain everything.
take a concept you wish you could do, but can't do yet. learning to break it down to the fundamentals can teach you a lot more than any lesson tomo creates for you.
if the sensei explained everything, you'd be left with a student who only knows to ask the teacher when the student is stuck. what i believe tomo is doing is giving you the tools you need to succeed as a guitarist. it's up to YOU to decide HOW you use those tools.
does that help?