<p>Why do people keep telling me NOT to do the optional essays if I have something to say and if the application has prompts/places for them just to not "annoy" admissions people when their job is to read applications?</p>
<p>Who has been telling you that? There's nothing wrong with submitting optional essays if there are prompts on the application. You may be getting confused with supplemental information, which some schools prefer that you don't submit.</p>