This is incorrect. Op_return data creates is provably unspendable outputs. Witness that is unspendable remains in the utxo and must remain for a node to stay in consensus.
Op return was created because of its prunable nature.
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It is not incorrect. Witness data is designed to be fully discardable including from hoock files, while the OP_RETURN entry must be stored by all nodes in blocks forever due to consensus requirements. The only thing it is pruneable from is the UTXO set, which is no longer memory backed.
But you need witness data when validating transactions.
Since opreturns can't be spent you should be able to get away without validating them.