You shouldn't believe those people. Most people (60-70%) do not adhere to the instructions of their physical therapist. Like you, they slack off when they go home. And again, resistance training isn't stretching. In the literature, "stretching" has a very specific definition. "Only stretching" is VERY rarely used as a PT treatment, and this isn't a recent practice change.
Himler P, Lee GT, Rhon DI, et al. Understanding Barriers to Adherence to Home Exercise Programs in Patients With Musculoskeletal Neck Pain. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice. 2023;63:102722. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102722.
Essery R, Geraghty AW, Kirby S, Yardley L. Predictors of Adherence to Home-Based Physical Therapies: A Systematic Review. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2017;39(6):519-534. doi:10.3109/09638288.2016.1153160.
Shahidi B, Padwal J, Lee E, et al. Factors Impacting Adherence to an Exercise-Based Physical Therapy Program for Individuals With Low Back Pain. PloS One. 2022;17(10):e0276326. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276326.
