I think checking your cells frequently with a meter is good advice.
I've also seen no reason to balance charge unless they're out for some reason (which probably indicates a fault with the pack anyway).
The only time my cells have gone out of balance is following a balance lead problem. I've done hundreds of cycles on packs without ever balance charging, in my experience the cells just don't drift apart. As soon as anything is connected to that middle pin you risk them going out of balance (even if they're supposedly being balance charged), so I avoid even connecting the balance lead... but I check them regularly.
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