It's true! You don't technically need a DAW, but I just I like how easy a good one makes it to go from noodling around on an idea to having a full song. In my opinion, any of major DAWs (including Logic/Live/FL/Reaper/Cubase) gives you enough tools to put out really polished stuff if you want to start polishing your craft. I'm not sure if I've found an open source one I like to that level yet, though. Ardour seems really powerful, but I'm unfamiliar with it.