Why can’t it be “reply right away to acknowledge if needed” and “follow up a couple of days later about the progress”?

Something about the “don’t reply right away only to do X later” advice feels very off to me. 

Not sure what the intent behind that is but if the idea is to play (manipulation, political) games — I’d stay away from adopting such tactics because I don’t want to think like that. 

Especially when alternate solutions that are more pleasant are easily available. 