People need to remember that being a filler member is not necessarily forever. Someone who is filler at debut can make themselves indispensable later. Also, the fact that calling someone a filler member is rude (and ppl shouldn't do it bc there's no need to be rude) doesn't mean it's not true.

I don't think filler means talentless; I think it means not necessary. There are members whom, if they're not there, the group is fundamentally different: bc they're such a distinct singer, bc they're so popular, etc.

It was definitely more apparent when more large groups were debuting: companies seemed so scared that any trainee might end up being the breakup star, they were reticent to make any cuts at all. So you end up with groups that really could be streamlined.

I think of survival shows like MyDol, No Mercy, and even Sixteen, where very talented trainees are cut (for a variety of specific reasons, but generally) bc they weren't needed in the group. Groups being put together consciously and not just with all the trainees they have at the time, is what tends to lead to fewer filler members at debut. After debut, it's up to the idol to make themselves indispensable.

But again, it's still a rude thing to call someone.