Friends don't let friends set required = true on Field level!

Either:

• If it’s always required, automate it.
• If it’s conditionally required, use a Validation Rule.

Removing "required" on Field Level is always a mandatory step on every Object Cleanup!

If you think it's required on a certain process step, create a monitoring batch/report to alert you that rule is ever broken. This way you are still on top of "required" requirement.

Thanks Ben Fuller for inspiring this post.