I think there are severe cases as well as moderate & and mild cases of TOS be it A-V-or NTOS or a mix of all.

TOS rarely starts out as severe right from the start of it.

In the mild ,moderate or early stages that is when quality PT, self care, and other things can be most helpful.
Often after surgery some kind of therapy is still needed.

I just don't want future readers to see a blanket statement and think their only option is surgery when it may not be the case for them and their version TOS.

Sometimes dr say a blanket statement , but don't really think of how it may or may not apply to everyone else at the time.
He probably meant it for your case of TOS.

If there is an anatomical anomaly that is found then most likely surgery is needed for something like that.