Mr. Mod:
Since you bring Chumros to the table….
We have to split chumros into multiple groups, and realize not all chumros are created equal. (there are more then I will mention here, but hopefully this will be a springboard).
The first type is when the Olam is Noheg for the Halacha to be one way, and then there is a Kula going the other (such as Colov Yisroel). Of course, this can be split between Stam a Da’as Yochid creating the Kula and the Gadol HaDor.
The second type is when the Olam (Rema, MB, etc.) paskins like the minority of Shittos, and someone wants to be Machmir like the other shittos. An example of this would be Chadosh in Chul.
Another type of Chumrah would be something that is NOT halacha, but Chazal made it a “suggestion”, such as the title of the thread.
Yet another example is when one wants to be Machmir like a Da’as Yochid (or minority shitta), where one must be very careful to make sure they know what they are doing before they start. The classic example of this is standing/sitting for Kriyas Shema like Bais Shammai.
There are other groupings as well, but this is the point I want to bring out. It is to our detriment that we label all of these items “chumros”, when the label really doesn’t apply.