"We need designs for this feature" is understood as a business need, but why is "ok so we'll need to interview 15 users" often framed as a #uxDesign need?
Designers aren't asking to talk to users because they're lonely. They're asking to talk to users to get the data they need to design *the features the business wants.*
#UserResearch is a business need. When business argues against doing it, it argues against achieving its own objectives.