I don't really see why it's considered a mistake not to try to trick the listener, though. Maybe it comes down to context/genre...
Yup...that's exactly it...it comes down to context/genre.
You wanna do Hip Hop/Rap...or some Techno...etc...then the beat is anything you want it to be.
If you are doing a song that is fundamentally supposed to be a virtual 4-5 piece "band" playing Rock/Pop....then the instrumentation and arrangement will be more traditional to go with that vibe.
Also...there's some combinations that just don't sound right. I mean, the computer lets you do whatever your imagination wants, but I think it will come down to context and genre, a not so much just "do whatever you feel".
I've doubled up on Toms or Bass lines when I wanted that sound, and we often double or quadruple rhythm guitar tracks...even though it all steps away from the virtual 4-5 piece band idea.
The point I was making earlier...it's one thing to consciously add elements that bend the band reality...it's another thing when a newb simply has a lot of contradictory shit going on by accident.
I think that with everything...you first need to know the norms and how they go before you can effectively step outside of that in a conscious meaningful way...but I also know that these days a lot of home-rec/YT music is a concoction made of accidents, and mixes come together without any actual plan.
People will just slap shit together and on top of each other...and something comes out...that's how they write/record.
Again...not against experimentation..but I do believe you need to know the rules before you can break them with intent and not just by accident all the time.
That said...modern Pop these days is more like sound design rather than songwriting and arranging. Everything has to have 3 pounds of ear candy to make the cut. It's like...having a more traditional "band" type of arrangement doesn't cut it.
Not to mention...everything modern HAS to have some Hip Hop spice...EVERYTHING.