I kill elk for a living and granted most of those are front country kills. I hunt the roughest country Idaho has to offer and in all the packs I've had both horse and foot I've never had an elk go bad just quartering.

If it's 80 degrees and you have an all day pack I'd probably bone it out but usually that time of year I'm doing front country stuff so it's not a big deal.

I don't even know any one that bones out unless it's a horrible situation and never heard of them losing meat either. Cept the ribcage which we usually kick.

Not calling anyone a liar or anything. To each his own, just giving my experience which in my opinion is pretty extensive.