Yep, after the TOS era and before the Dominion War, the Federation/Starfleet was well on it’s way to stagnation, complete with the complacency and legalism that goes with it.
Remember TNG’s “Loud as a Whisper” with Riva, the deaf diplomat whose interpreters were killed? I found it rather curious when Worf learned of sign language and commented that it would have enormous tactical uses. I mean, from a security standpoint, the need to utilize nonverbal communication should be obvious. I know MACO was long since disbanded, but that doesn’t make useful tactical training not worth bothering with.