Your reasoning that first-principles results in inefficient communication is false. It is a common misunderstanding.

You can always breakdown one layer on demand. And you only need to drop down as far as the other party insists.

My example was about striking up direct conversation with someone and not overhearing.

If someone pointed to IEEE protocol and I asked "but X, so why?" and if the answer is still IEEE protocol again, then the person does not have "first principles".

That is the test. It exposes the shorthand user from the legit first-principles capable user.