Daily morning ritual that requires precision?
The monolithic cultures do not always make sense. Under very, very authoritarian governments I can see why there might be pressure to conform (i.e. not "look like trouble" or be seen as not making the appropriate gesture of tribute to authority, which I think may explain Cardassian men), but in the case of the Vulcans, there'd be at least some allowance for diversity.
The monolithic culture bugs me, but another is that Vulcans don't let their own citizens choose whatever path they want, example young Tuvok. It seems they all have to conform to the teachings of Surak and no emotions.
I do agree about the monolithic cultures, but what are you gonna do in an hour. And the story is about the crew, while aliens may represent some facet of (yes, our own) humanity to be examined.
And OTOH, taken to extremes, it's also a conceit to validate all other cultures except one's own. It's a false humility, and nearly as patronizing as racism...
In Tuvok's case I rather think it was society showing its responsibility for one of its youths. The young do not always know what is best for them in the long run. Further, the master would not have tried to stop him had he walked out. It was Tuvok himself who had nowhere else to go. It was Tuvok who would have suffered the consequences of a lack of bio-cultural understanding. It was Tuvok who sat in the chair at the master's feet.
Passing on culture and the benefit of experience - and even obstructing a young person who is about to ruin his life - are the marks of sound parenting. Face it, an emotional Vulcan will burn himself out in the first pon farr, having alienated all his potential mates by being a self-imposed social outcast.
Laissez-faire parenting is no benefit to the child or to society. Children need guidance and support, not carte blanche. We wouldn't just throw someone the keys to a car and say "learn how to drive", would we? Or dump them in the middle of the English Channel and say, "learn how to be an Olympic swimmer, kid."
In
Gravity, Tuvok had the opportunity to revisit that decision, and, if he chose, to fall in love with Lori Petty's character. Instead he embraced the same choice again, melded with her to show her why, and she
agreed.
A logical Vulcan retains his choice to function in logic or emotion.
An emotional Vulcan no longer has the option of logic.
