More gyms have less bags then before some may have three bags is this because bag worked isn't needed?
In reality, nothing is needed other than a body but it's all to supplement your training. Skill, technique and strategy are king. That's where fights are won and lost.
I'm stupifyed that when I walk in known gyms many fighters as well as their trainers do little to no bag work. A top coach told me that pads were more relevant to boxing than bag work, do you think that pads are superior to bag work?
Bags are great for boxing conditioning. Pads are also great for conditioning, with more of a skill emphasis. If you have someone holding pads for everyone in the gym then bags might not be needed. Holding pads can be quite jarring on wrists and elbows though.
Only if a technical coach is holding them and tutoring you as you go along. Otherwise, it's basically meaningless.
What was the context? Obviously if you're getting bad pad work it's as bad as bad bag work. Pads are great for a coach to offer feedback, and because it's a live body you're forced to adjust constantly to their movements. A coach once told me that he thought pads were more draining than sparring because he had to "think" when someone was holding the mitts vs him reacting to a sparring partner.
Come on tai, you know you're just meant to mindlessly copy everyone else and not ask questions. Bow your head and do as you're told.
I didn't take the time to read the responses. But I'm sure you'll get a lot of "well...technically" type of responses that just get into semantics. Simple answer is......theoretically, it's not essential. But in reality, yes it is 100% essential.