IMO it's the only way to grow. Better for overall health, better for insulin sensitivity, and the biggest thing IMO is that I feel 1000% better growing lean. Won't ever do any type of true bulk ever again just because it feels so shitty to lug the weight around, makes snoring worse, food doesn't partition as well, etc.
Realistically, unless you're trying to be a super heavy, two years of bulk cycles should put on the majority of the mass you need anyways and and after that is slowly adding/fine tuning so bulking is more of a beginner thing IMO. I have very average genetics and went from a 6'1 140lbs endurance athlete to 210lbs stage weight in 3 years and have stayed lean since and just fine tuned while slowly adding more mass.