How are gc/ syslog/ kernel logs are special and not sent to central logging?
Ad-hoc logs (such as thread dumps etc.) can also be triggered via safe application end points from restricted locations.
> "Is it never necessary to run ad hoc commands on your production systems?"
Ad-hoc commands in production AS ROOT should be exception, not norm, and reserved for on-call members, not every developer working on team.
Even the most competent people, sysadmin or developer, can make a mistake.
I did not say no commands should ever be run on production, there could be non-root read-only accounts. I am opposed to everyone having root on production. I have seen enough data loss incidents or full blown outages because of mistakes.