From my perspective it's a place where things collect so I know if there's a reason to open an app. I don't bounce in and out of apps or check things at all unless there's a notification.

I leave my phone on silent at all times so when I do look at it I check the notification area, but not all the different things that might put a notification in there.

Also I disable notifications for most things that would spam me.

Because you and I do not manipulate others to do our bidding, and exploit their duress. Those victims of abuse, enable notifications out of phobias.

Tis also why I DM & VM instead of taking calls and meetings, because I do not allow myself to be exploited by an oppressor.

I agree. I think there's just this constant perceived pressure by employers, customers, and friends/family to always be available. Whether this perception is accurate or not is situation dependent, but ultimately I think we've all been traumatized into keeping notifications on for every communications related app. That said, keeping notifications on for something like Signal does strike me as a bit counterintuitive.