I think there is too much focus on tones in beginning Chinese. Yes, you should get them right, but no, you'll get better as long as you speak more, even if your tones are wrong at first. So rather than remember how to say fewer words with the right tones, you'll get farther if you can say more words with whatever tones you feel like applying. That "feeling" will just get better over time. Until then, you'll talk as good as a farmer coming in from the country side whose first language isn't mandarin.
I couldn’t disagree more. Everyone can understand some common tourist phrases without tones - and you will probably get a lot of positive feedback from Chinese people. It’s common to view a foreigner making an attempt at Mandarin (even a bad one) as a sign of respect.
But for conversation, you can’t speak Mandarin without using proper tones because you simply won’t be understood.
That really isn't true, or at least it isn't true with some practice. You don't have to consciously think about or learn tones, but you will eventually pick them anyways (tones are learned unconsciously via lots of practice trying to speak and be understood).
You can be perfectly understood if you don't speak broadcast Chinese. There are plenty of heavy accents to deal with anyways. Like Beijing 儿化 or the inability of southerners to pronounce sh very differently from s.
