Looking at the example, I think in the situation and context of that photo, the way the tripod is set up with the feet making a stable base at the bottom and the centre column extended is the easiest way to photograph the scene. It would be extremely awkward to extend the legs in this environment.

Many lenses lose focus when zoomed. You received poor advice. An old practice was to focus on the subject, then recompose the image and shoot. But with modern cameras that is often not necessary any more (although I still do that in portrait and wedding situations).