He sounds a bit lacksadaisical or old fashioned in my opinion.
Or maybe he thinks he is so experienced he can tell by superior means. And I'm not being sarcastic with the 2nd sentence, he may be a truly gifted clinician and get away without the routines that underpin common practice nowadays.
As the DAS28 combines both your pain reports and his note of signs of swelling it is a great way usually to talk over how things are going.
I don't get touched much in clinic though, I must admit, they just ask me and look at my hand and knee joints in some detail. I don't know how they would ID swelling in the hip joint, despite reporting tenderness.
But my first statement is probably more likely, in my extensive NHS experience.
Ask him why his method as good as or better than DAS. Use his answer and his answers to any other questions to consider seeking out a more proactive consultant. Someone here can usually recommend.
Sorry this is quite disjointed, being up and down doing family stuff, best, franky
