Myth: "Just minify and combine the CSS, builder weight gone"

Myth: "Just minify and combine the CSS, builder weight gone"

The optimizer-plugin crowd treats minify+combine as the finish line. It shaves bytes, but it can't delete rules you never use, and combining can actively hurt now.

Pros of minify/combine:
— Removes whitespace, real but small savings
— Fewer requests on HTTP/1.1 stacks

Cons / why it's oversold:
— Combining files under HTTP/2 often slows caching, not speeds it
— Minify keeps 100% of the unused selectors, the real problem
— It masks bloat instead of removing it

Verdict: minify is hygiene; unused-CSS removal (PurgeCSS-style) is the cure. Don't confuse the two.

Best for: a final polish after you've already cut unused widget assets.