Flash isn't a panacea. It can help with an escape, but you'd be surprised how rarely I use it some games. There have been times I've wondered if I'd be better off with another spell.
The problem with thinking that flash is 100% necessary is that you are forgetting just how long the cooldown is. Using flash to escape is a desperation move as once used its down for 5 minutes. A jungler that can bait out a flash can always return and try again and the next time your flash will probably be down. So if you are counting on flash as an escape and playing aggressively you can be easily punished.
I do always take flash for now, but I might try different mixes in the future on some champs who I rarely use it on. Honestly, I seem to use it more offensively (flash+ult style) than I use it defensively. (I've had friends who are ranked tell me that I was way too quick to use flash a few weeks ago and now I almost never use it unless I absolutely have no choice or I'm playing support/ADC and have been hooked by a thresh/blitz as part of a gank attempt.)