I have to strongly disagree with that. Much has been written about this. Briefly, you have to covariate adjust in RCTs to make the most out of the data, i.e., to get the best power and precision. It’s all about explaining explainable outcome heterogeneity, and nothing to do with balance. And concerning stratification, Stephen Senn has shown repeatedly that the correct philosophy is to pose the model and then randomize consistent with that, not the other way around as you have suggested.
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