Don't ever let someone, regardless of their job, tell you that you don't need something for your animal. What works for one person, or what they use, might not always work for you. The rules for setting up enclosures for animals are not always hard and fast.
I prefer UTHs as they're easier for me to regulate as opposed to lightbulbs. I'm not 100% familiar with ceramic heat emitters but I've heard this is another option other than lightbulbs. Perhaps someone could shed some light on those for you.