My first mixer I ever owned was a crappy Gemini back in the 80s that leaked like crazy but had a cool echo effect built in.
I have owned many mixers since like the Numark 1775 and the GLI 9000. These early mixers had an onboard equalizer for ALL channels. Today’s mixer has the capability to manipulate highs, mids, lows PER channel.
I grew up mixing by NOT touching the EQ and just mixing straight channel A with channel B. Today’s technology allows for much more control over transitions by manipulating frequencies and countless effects.
It sure appears to me like no big name DJs do it anymore. All the mixes I watch on Youtube use EQ mixing. It looks like big name DJs do the same thing but with so many fake sets it’s hard to tell (EQ mixing looks a lot like fake knob twisting).
Loads of big DJ’s still do it, but TBH as a techno or house DJ you really should be using the EQ, your probably mixin’ digital and just pouring those low ends together will not sound well if done unintentionally.
I like straight mixing and it all I have done for years, but beat matching takes so much concentration I don’t have the concentration to mix and mess about with affects. I do think affects are good, but if I was going to use them it would be with a controller as its synchronising everything for you so you cam mess around with affects.