@NonPolitical,
“The example of Tephilin (and all other Mitzvot) are not relevant here. (Frankly I’m surprised you didn’t use the example of Kruvim.) All the Mitzvot connect us to Hashem. He commanded them. Are you implying that the practices mentioned in this thread are on somehow on par with Mitzvot from the Torah?”
I’m not sure what practice you’re referring to, I possibly missed a few posts, but I can tell that connecting to a Tzadik is a way of connecting to Hashem. As Rashi says:
ולדבקה בו. אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמָר כֵּן? וַהֲלֹא אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה הוּא? אֶלָּא הִדָּבֵק בְּתַלְמִידִים וּבַחֲכָמִים וּמַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עָלֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ נִדְבַּקְתָּ בּוֹ