Yes it wrong to optimize before profiling **BUT**

Good programming, programming that makes code simpler and more straightforward doesn't require profiling.  Good programming like moving unneeded initializations out of loops does not need anymore justification than the fact that you are improving the quality of the code.  

IMHO the only times you need to profile is when you are specifically looking to improve performance.  In order to show the improvement you must baseline first, and then show the delta.

Anytime you add complexity under the guise of optimization without showing proof that it was a bottleneck and the code does improve performance; is just doing bad programming.