You have it backwards. A badge on an icon is a passive indicator not a notification! When I look at my phone, I want to see if I have an unread message.

The Oreo model means I either have to have notifications (which are actual distractions) or I simply have no clue if something needs to be dealt with. For a device designed for communication, this is important. It's not a distraction, it's literally the reason I have the device.