Nigel,
Backgrounds being blurred is an artistic choice one has to make. However, there are consequences. As I have said that includes lack of context.
The other issue is that having everything in focus and a wider capture allows one to carefully achieve improved composition when one is facing this challenge with some issues.
Sure one can crop tightly, that is the ideal when one has chosen what makes the subject "complete" in your composed picture.
The subject does not have to be totally included but the image must not appear incomplete. Composition, where lines, patterns space draw the eyes, counter balance and satisfy can be tough to optimize in a split seconf of capture.
So if compositon is one of the key limitations of one's work, then that needs to be dealt with.
My own belief is that one can restart the creative process today while sitting at your computer monitor.
This is not the classical or either the ideal approach as the strength of your own ideal compositon likely is made, (for static objects especially), only just before the original shutter click.
So I'd meld together Don's approach of tight framing which will test you and then always adding wider frames too. Then you can evaluate your success and always rescue your shoot.
Asher