Rice was being used as a desiccant before I was born. An old-timey kitchen hack was to put rice in salt shakers. Salt is also a desiccant so the old-timey hack suggests that rice is a better desiccant than salt.
Silica gel is even better.
Now...
Some people have opinions to validate their decision to not follow rules.
Although there "could" be reasons to climb above the 400 feet from launch site, the majority of flights probably don't need that.
I'm thinking a case by case thing is a...