I agree with you for the most part. This problem definitely doesn't require ML to achieve.
However, if doing it with a classical approach (matching sprites) takes a person half a day, and doing it with the new fangled proprietary ml takes a person 20 minutes, I do see that doing it with the new fangled ml approach does have some merits. People want to get stuff done.
I'm a barely passable programmer, so not exactly a shining benchmark, so maybe my view is distorted. I don't think I can do duck detection flawlessly with classical programming in half a day and it would be a total pain in the ass to do it that way, to be completely honest with you.
However, if doing it with a classical approach (matching sprites) takes a person half a day, and doing it with the new fangled proprietary ml takes a person 20 minutes, I do see that doing it with the new fangled ml approach does have some merits. People want to get stuff done.
I'm a barely passable programmer, so not exactly a shining benchmark, so maybe my view is distorted. I don't think I can do duck detection flawlessly with classical programming in half a day and it would be a total pain in the ass to do it that way, to be completely honest with you.