Even if I'm now retired, perhaps my experience and advice can help.
When I started in location recording we had only film and the recorder of choice was usually a Nagra: III, 4.0 and 4.2. Later came the stereo model, but I never got to use one.
Where I lived, Argentina, the recordist handled the whole audio operation, since picking locations to the final film copy. You advised and were responsible for all audio things in the film.
Even if I followed on on the business for some time, only renting audio equipment for film & video, I did follow how things were being done. Wireless mic became better and better, and nobody would probably do a location or even studio recording nowadays without using a few, even if you are using a pole mic.
But I always used and would use a directional mic, taping it on a separate channel and mixing in post-production with the other mics.
Why? Because there's something called "sound plane" that gives more authenticity and makes it sound more natural. You will have to learn and pay attention to how people's voices (fiction of documentary) sound, particularly when you go from a wide open shot to a close-up. The only mic that can provide such difference is the pole mic, because a lapel mic will always sound the same, with no difference.
I have no knowledge or idea about your experience on location recording, so please let me know if you already know what I'm talking about.