MCP benefits (security, stability) outweigh your AI rolling their own API client or CLI, after which YOU/it owns the client. Talk about major technical debt! MCP has a client protocol baked in. If your 3rd party API doesn't support the API fully in their MCP, that's when you think about rolling your own or writing that 3rd party a stern letter. Stability and security over bespoke client fragility. MCP (or a 3rd party managed CLI) all the way.