Maybe my gun cleaning habits are partially left over from military requirements to keep 'em clean for reliability. However, I think there is much wisdom in cleaning the weapon, then test firing and fouling it before trusting my life on it...but I see that as part of the cleaning process. here is always the possibility that I could put something together wrong, forget something, make a mistake with lubrication, and many other possibilities. so I clean, then test fire and foul.
All my bolt rifles work best after I clean, then foul with 10-20 rounds. I rarely let semi autos get all gunked up. I may run a dry nylon brush, then dry patches through the bore, wipe down and re- lube the bolt/bolt carrier as an interim measure when I won't be able to do a full clean, test and foul. But I am certainly NOT one of those guys who shoots a semi-auto without cleaning until they get unreliable.
One of the officers where I used to work complained because she couldn't qualify...her glock kept malfunctioning. she asked me to look at it, and it was filthy, and dry. I asked when it was last cleaned, and she said once after she bought it. "Someone" told her that glocks didn't need to be cleaned. After it was cleaned, and lubed, it worked fine. I asked if she still believed what "someone" told her.