when can we destroy the terms "hard magic" and "soft magic"

Mostly because I think they are a stupid way to describe something that doesn't really exist

The way magic is presented in fiction is not an either/or situation

There is a middle ground between "every ability can be figured out by the audience using mathematical formulas" and "lol it just happens"

the vast majority of magic in media falls very much in the middle of these two extremes and yet everyone acts like those extremes are the only ones to exist

And arguments over which is better, which should always be context dependent

Like let's not forget the [Everyone disliked that] reaction Midichlorians got

I personally find the terms hard and soft magic useful when trying to cliff notes a universe to someone to recommend it, but I definitely think people trying to argue any given type of narrative element is 'better' than its alternatives is pointless at its best. Like, executions differ, people differ, heck MOODS differ.

Most of the time I love honestly overcomplicated hard magic systems, but every now and then I NEED something where people get what they want by just believing hard enough or whatever. Like, I love the very extremes of both, let alone the vast and beautiful rainbow between.