Why does having the initiative matter?

[mike0292]

What matters is that there exists a dynamic in poker, for better or for good, that the player with the initiative is expected to make a bet when checked to in heads up situation.

Now, if you have a real hand, and you know if you check the other player is going to bet, why would you donk? You lose money when he just folds, when you know that you can count on him to bet every time when checked to and you can inflate the pot with a raise. The only reason people donk is to [censored] with people's minds, or with the intention of 3 betting all in over a raise.