> This ensures I can create commits with just the stuff that works of my changes without first removing the ongoing work.

If I have ongoing work I want to remove, I just stash it, as you said. I don't need a staging area to stash things, and it's pretty rare that I'll have unrelated work anyway.

> The staging area surely adds complexity, but if you do not like it then simply don't use git.

Ah, the old "your arm hurts? Just cut it off!" solution. Yes, I will just not use git, I will just email my team diffs.