The latest NEC requires a maintenance reduction switch on devices 1200A and larger.
That's not exactly true. 240.87 for breakers 1200 amps and larger says:
(B) Method to Reduce Clearing Time.
One of the following means shall be provided and shall be set to operate at less than the available arcing current:
(1)Zone-selective interlocking
(2) Differential relaying
(3) Energy-reducing maintenance switching with local status indicator
(4) Energy-reducing active arc flash mitigation system
(5) An instantaneous trip setting. Temporary adjustment of the instantaneous trip setting to achieve arc energy reduction shall not be permitted.
(6) An instantaneous override
(7) An approved equivalent means
So there must be a way to reduce the clearing time, but there are numerous ways to do that besides just a maintenance (MX) switch. MX switch is preferred in my opinion because the system can be set to coordinate under normal operation, and the MX-switch activated when working on it.