Aga, this is a topic I've thought about a lot in my design career, and I agree with how you described the value a designer's intuition can have.

You may be interested to read some of my writing about design and intuition vs. data-driven decisions:

1. Blitz design - the value of intuition and speed

https://uxdesign.cc/blitz-design-the-value-of-intuition-and-speed-d8be39c400a6

2. Data-Driven Design Is Killing Our Instincts

https://modus.medium.com/data-driven-design-is-killing-our-instincts-d448d141653d

I might also add that the quality of conscious or sub-conscious interlinking is increased in designers who aren't siloed into a speciality - that's why I encourage designers to be T-shaped, or "Specialized Generalists". You can read more of my thoughts in Why Designers Need to Be 'Specialized Generalists (https://modus.medium.com/why-designers-need-to-be-specialized-generalists-520b020ec039)