OP - I'm in a similar boat as you. Thinking about retiring next year at 50, no pensions. So, will be living off taxable accounts for 10+ years.
Was your Fido rep trying to make a sale? Probably. But, that doesn't mean he was necessarily wrong. Proponents of liability matching portfolios would want you to have a known, dependable source of income to cover basic expenses during phase 1 of your retirement.
Jim Otar (Unveiling the Retirement Myth) suggests annuities for folks in the Grey Zone. Not saying he's correct, but reading his material has caused me to pause when my initial reaction to annuities is "are you crazy?".
For some people, SPIAs may serve a purpose. Some links you may find interesting:
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=110521
What Color Is Your Retirement Zone?