why is delay without millis not being executed?

aarg:
OP is referring to the difference between using interval and interval1. A syntax error results from a deviation from the grammar of the language. A programmer error might not do that.
. . .

That’s why the reference was BTW, no implication was made that ( ) would not work.
"can remove" this was not written as 'must remove'

Way too much time spent on this.