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Chefs are chefs. They work with FOOD using TOOLS. A woodcrafter works with WOOD using TOOLS. ANY carpenter, woodworker or even moreso, a FURNITURE ARTISAN worth their salt will tell you that anything made from wood will require REGULAR moisture style treatments to avoid damage. Look at old wooden toys that have never been treated since they were made. Many are cracked. Look at old furniture from CENTURIES ago. If not properly polished, waxed or oiled with a furniture oil regularly, it's highly likely they will split. Wooden doors can split which is why many doors are now made from composite or metal.

All that said, any cook/chef worth their salt will also know that the first thing you do before using a wooden cutting board for the first time is to give it several coats of mineral oil (or another food safe oil that won't go rancid) letting each coat soak in and somewhat dry. Also, any cook/chef worth their salt would know that once it has been used, a wooden cutting requires an immediate washing and towel dry, and giving it a bit of time to air dry. Once dry, the repeating coats of oil as described before are necessary to maintain the board. Is it work? Yes. But unless you'd prefer to keep buying new boards it's what is necessary. Anything you want to keep in good condition requires effort. Would you never wash your car, change the tires or the fluids regularly? I don't think so.