Well, stir-fried cabbage with garlic should have garlic first, then add some salt and monosodium glutamate.

As for soy sauce, if you like it, why not? Just don't put too much to avoid salty dishes. You can add some sugar or vinegar as long as you like.

Cooking is not production, and there is no uniform standard. Everything is just to satisfy our tastes, especially home cooking. Don't stick to the form and don't be confused by a lot of spices on the menu. As long as a dish is ready, clean, non-toxic, salty and delicious, then it's half done, and the rest depends on your own preferences, which is better. Why do foreigners like buffets? Because of humanity, freedom!