Is the image property really required for Google's breadcrumbs structured data type?

[Ryan-Ricketts]

In its structured data (i.e., Schema.org) documentation, Google says that the "image" property is required for the breadcrumbs data type. That seems new to me, and it seems unnecessary for breadcrumbs. Does anyone think this really matters to Google?

More info about breadcrumbs data type:
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/data-types/breadcrumbs

I asked Google directly here:
https://twitter.com/RyanRicketts/status/755478266878853122

[RuthBurrReedy]

I agree that it doesn't make a lot of sense for Google to require the image itemprop - it's not the only example of Google requiring an itemprop that doesn't really make sense (for example, OperatingSystem is required for the WebApplication property, which doesn't make sense since it's...you know...a web application).

For what it's worth, even though the documentation says it's required, BreadcrumbList code that doesn't include the image attribute validates just fine in the Structured Data Testing Tool, and pages without the image itemprop in place are still getting breadcrumb snippets in the SERPs. So it may not be as "required" as Google says it is.