I have no doubt, I could drive a vehicle with a blindfold on, and the passenger telling me where to go but I wouldn't want to because it would be clearly unsafe.
I would argue, all round vision is essential because driving is a co-operative process, this may be very old fashioned in this, 'me' world.
To drive safely we must cooperate with other drivers, to help each other to make progress.
Vans without rear windows can getaway with this because the driver can (or should) make allowances for the lack of rear view, and some other road users (the ones that are paying attention) make allowances for the van.
But in accepting this we are accepting a compromise.
I know, I have avoided, or minimised damage due to rear end shunts, by being aware of vehicles close behind me, and pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds etc, who love to hide in the external mirrors blind spot, who may have been compromised if I had not known they were there.