User blog comment:Revanchest/Runic Compass/@comment-5266525-20140711145141

"I know some of you die hard meta knights (see what I did there~) are going to be raving on and on about "smite does true damage, per level, only use when low" please, hold your complaints for your husband, use it straight up on the first clear so it comes back up faster and more ready to use on the next camp, it's not science, just the science of cooldown"

Do you know why the meta is what it is? It's because it's generally the most effective thing you can do overall in a game. Following the meta is not a bad thing, so stop acting all arrogant and looking down on people who do so just because you feel they're being mainstream.

The other point of my quote is that you don't Smite a buff until the last second for the same reason you don't Smite Baron until the last second; you don't want to instantly lose it to an invade. If a team walks in on you while you're busy doing your buff and you don't have Smite, you can kiss your early game goodbye. It has zilch to do with the meta.