I consider HTP a platform for learning.
And 99% of the infosec job is made up of learning.
Learning does not means that you have to research and build on your own the wheel again and again.
If your goal is to become a red teamer, you have to think like an attacker. And attackers are accustomed to check for easy solutions and are eager to receive hints to ease their life.
If your goal is to join the blue heroes, then you have to learn from other’s who have had experiences dealing with real-life attackers or red teamers.
In the final analysis: there’s no reason for not looking for hints/nudges/suggestions/papers that may help you to learn what you need for what you are trying to achieve.