This answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons?

The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2).

If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2).

If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2).

If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2).

If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons?

The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons?

The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elementsThis answer feels wrong because it is not re-using the existing theme elements, but copy-pasting them (paragraph 2). If the theme is provided by a third party then it may receive theme updates that will not cascade through to a custom template. Further it adds complexity to changing the look and feel of your site, changing theme requires a rebuild of the custom page. Would a plugin not be better for these two reasons? The way I read the question, the OP wishes to add additional functionality, not additional theme elements