Bottom line, basic editing techniques prohibit the use of selection tools. A gradient map is a form of selection tool.
While it can be argued that adjusting curves, levels, etc. on just one color channel or on highlights/midtones/shadows only is also (implicitly) making a selection, these techniques are different than the explicit use of selection tools. Limiting the use of implicit selection would, in effect, prohibit almost all changes to brightness, contrast, color balance, etc. That is not in the spirit of the basic rules.
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