No IMHO, because the runnels can get gunky especially if you have hard water you’ll have to remove mineral spots from the runnels. I’d rather just put down a towel for drying dishes.

Yeah. You don't have to use it but it's hard to add later.

Yes. You don't have to have runnels, although I love mine (not soapstone). Scroll down in the link for a pic of itsallaboutthefood's drainboard:

Soapstone drainboard

I love how the one mama goose linked to was a large sloped area and not runnels, per se. Of course runnels are super popular in the UK, so they can't be as hard as all that to maintain- but it sur seems easier to clean a wider area than a narrower one.

Don't forget to add an egg groove in your baking area! (What are those called again?)