Yikes, I can’t imagine the pain of my abs being torn top to bottom. I have an umbilical hernia and that MF can feel like a knife in the gut.
I train my abs and obliques twice per week at the end of my workout. Nothing major but 2-3 sets on weighted crunches and same in side bends. I did not directly train my core for years (decades ) and once lean it showed. I thought my profession and activity level would be enough, it was not. I was flat and smooth even at a low BF.
I have a large rib cage and wide hip bones so I doubt I would ever have an aesthetic bodybuilder waistline. I am more focused on building and maintaining a strong core to prevent injury’s at work.