Rebounding may be overratted at NT level when it's 18 vs 16, and there's not much difference between the two - but there's a much greater difference between 12 vs 10, and I'd rather have the 12!
Even at EBBL level I play at, which I'd estimate battles of 15 vs 13 are most common, it makes a noticeable difference and I'd rather have the extra five rebounds a game than concede them.