Is simplification considered a 'bad' technique?

   This "never simplify" is nonsense. "Be a Bohemian" is nonsense. Try those things in a real war!

   Chess is a game of war. Simplifying is often a very good strategy when you are ahead materially. The aim of the game is to win...not write poetry.

   Sorry, Lala, your advice sucks. (Although you are OK by me.)

Ghostess_Lola loses almost twice as many games as she wins here. Take her chess advice at your own peril. 

 I Love you Lola with all the complications. May your chess-life spirit give inspiration to our mind and soul. 

 Happy Birthday Power5, my gift to you http://youtu.be/u-pD4gJ9bow

Halloween is juvenile, at best. Leave it for the kids. Simplification is often the best thing to do. "The better the player, the better he is with less material!" Also remember that the majority of sub-1500 players are knight and queen dependant, so use your knights to bishop-hunt and trade queens in the early middle game. "Pawns are the soul of chess" (Philidor) and don't let your opponent have two of anything, especially bishops or rooks, That's all, folks!

If you are a piece up then it pays to simply bully the opponent. Thus rather than have to worry about what would happen if your opponent takes your pieces, you can simply put your minor (and sometimes major) pieces in harms way in the knowledge that each exchange puts you further ahead.

Far from it, in fact, understanding how to simplify to your favour can make the difference between a complex win and an easy win. The difference is strong players know 'when' to simplify and 'how' whereas weaker players don't. But when used correctly it's an extremely high level concept that GM's use all the time in their games and can often be the most effective form of a win conversion. 

At basically any level, simplifying the position by trading off pieces is the easiest and most basic way to keep the advantage. After all, when you're up a knight and you trade off all other pieces without losing the exchange, you'll end up being up a knight which will help you win eventually by for example promoting your pawn. You can basically build on the advantage that you've gained by having won material when you keep that advantage; at some point it'll turn into a winning position.