Does active dry yeast really need proofing?
No, it isn't actually necessary.  The yeast activates just fine with the moisture in the bread.  I've been using Active Dry Yeast for years and hardly ever bother with proofing it.

Proofing shows that the yeast is actually alive.  If you have any doubt about it, proof it as the first thing that you do, before mixing up the other ingredients (and especially before putting liquid in).  If it fails then you didn't waste materials.