I suggested whether I should have one anyway (re: controllability/efficiency of stove) and he was of the opinion that most fitters just see them as a money making add-on and it wasn’t required in many cases.
I’ll connect to clay wherever possible as the clay is more robust when coal burning than steel. It is very rare to get the opportunity to make a a tar tight connection though due to the way the first clay lies at an angle/on top of a lintol/part of a throat former/ out of reach on top of a huge void.
This is assuming the clay passes a smoke pressure test too, which older ones never do ime, even when they look perfect.
So, not necessarily a scam. Good fitters will do whatever is in the best interest of the client so they are happy with their lovely new stove, if this means putting a SS liner into a chimney that appears in good condition then so be it.
As others have said above, the condition of the chimney with a stove is far more important than with an open fire. They are two completely different things.
If I remember, I’ll get some pics of the boiler stove tar-fest I’m going to reline at the end of the month just so you can see what I’m on about 🙂