For those starting out I suppose it seems a little silly. But once you do your first reality check that confirms you are dreaming, suddenly it wont seem so silly. It is hard to imagine you can think you are awake, and yet be dreaming, but it is true. I would say to at least give intellectual consent to the fact that there is a slim chance you could be dreaming, and you are just confirming you are indeed awake. After you do LD for the first time, it will be easier to consider you may indeed be dreaming. But personally I think random RCs are not the best. Study your dreams and see what dream signs are common for you and RC when that or something similar occurs in real life. Also RC if something weird or outlandish occurs. Two nights ago I saw a giant bird in a dream...I thought "thats kinda weird" and did an RC and confirmed I was dreaming. Now, that obviously is not something that occurs in real life so you cant RC that for real life practice. But once I was trying to screw in a screw and kept dropping it maybe 8 times. I did an RC then thinking "thats weird". Well, that time I was awake but it prepares you for stuff like "wow, that talking dog is kinda weird" and then you will RC and see you are dreaming.