Are Salafis Too Preoccupied with Refutations?

Shaikh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī, may Allāh protect him, said:

What the People of Desires say about the People of the Sunnah, that refuting [others] has taken up all their time and attention, is not correct; rather, they are busy with beneficial, [Islamic] knowledge, and then, after that, they engage in refuting the People of Desires and Innovations when the need for that arises; this is an honor for them because this is from the ways of sincerely fulfilling what is rightfully due to Allāh, His book, the Muslim leaders, and their general populaces. And [this is also from] their proceeding upon the way of the Salaf¹ in safeguarding Allāh’s religion.

¹the righteous, first three generations of this ummah (tr.)

Source: Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwá li-l-Shaikh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī, vol. 14, p. 266.