Dangerous apathy

The only way "defensive minimalism" could be counterproductive is if the tutor intended to mock the student. The true defensive action must come out of a desire to engage the student; if it comes out of frustration, then it would be as productive as disciplining a child out of anger.

It also depends on the student's motivation. If the heart of the behavior involves a complacent expectancy that the tutor will do all the work, then the student deserves a defensive minimalist.
Who really steps through that doorway without anticipating some form of interaction and participation?

"Defensive minimalism" then becomes another technique educators and tutors employ to rid students of their apathy, to help them grasp the importance of taking an interest in one's progression and learning. So much of crime is born from apathy, when someone knows that something is wrong or inappropriate but it ceases to matter to them anymore. The possibility always exists that if the student assumes the teacher (or tutor, parent, etc.) will eventually do it for them, that assumption can lead to actions with far graver ramifications.