Melds are not required for savage unless going for week 1 kills, Ultimate however get them melds. It is extremely advised to meld your gear appropriately to your job if you want to tackle this type of content, reason being it shows you are committed enough to do the learning necessary for savage+ content be it rotation/mechanics what have you.

Someone unwilling to meld their gear for savage+ content is a red flag as a sign they may be lazy and unwilling to adapt to any group and might even be looking for a carry at which point the boot is calling for their batookie.