I think you have that backward. Taking pitches that aren't strikes is an important skill. But ultimately, like all hitters, it's what he accomplishes when he DOES swing that matters.
A pretty decent history of the K (Hint: rising K rates are not a new phenomena): http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-strikeout-ascendant-and-what-should-be-done-about-it/
I laugh at today's tetherball head smacks. Back in my day, we couldn't afford no fancy schmancy fake leather tetherballs. We used rocks. And we LIKED it! Now THAT forced you to learn to keep your head up reeeaaaalll quick, friends. Real quick.
Now this misunderstanding was funny until I realized that my wife obviously now believes I've become so lazy that I can't be troubled to speak an entire sentence when describing the mildew situation. Concur.
True, except I sorta believe, over time, if you get the less important outs, you won't need to get the more important outs. And if you can't do the former, I'm not going to give you many opportunities to do the latter.