Yes, fancy maps could be made without filling the map with imported stuffs.
Like these.
(I don't know if you find them fancy or not, but I find them to be)
but once you create your map like this,
that is not melee.
Unlike non-melee maps, melee has its own strict shape and outline.
Even a minor departure from a melee shape is enough to make players feel "This is not melee"
and I try my best to keep the map within melee boundary.
My opinion is melee should not be judged by the same criteria as non-melee,
as each genre has its own traits. judging criteria cannot transcend that line.
Among non-melee, yes, they should be evaluated upon the same standard whatever the type is,
but there is a clear line between melee and non-melee.
The gap is as huge as melee storm-bolt and non-melee storm-bolt type fancy trigger skill
Like you said, this is not a melee community.
But when judging melee, melee standard should be applied.
Understanding the characteristics of each genre is also an important part of review.