Elden Ring's developers know most players use guides, but still try to cater to those who go in blind: 'If they can't do it, then there's some room for improvement on our behalf'
Don't blame them after the obscure parts of Dark Souls in the console era where people had no idea how to catch a ride with the Giant Crow back to the undead asylum, and trade items via Snuggly at the bird's nest. Just one of many examples.
Tbf both of those are completely optional. But to continue tbf, the lord souls are damn near impossible to find if you don't have the golden fog gate locations memorized / didn't find them before the lordvessel in the first place.