That suggestion is very good(dur-o-wall,bond beams,vertical reinforcement....),everyting will make it better,like a bunker, but since you don't need a bunker, just a well built house and for sure the suggestion came from somebody that won't be paying for the extras,I will tell you,all you need is vertical reinforcement(#5 rebar doweled to footing contious for the whole height of the walls and cores filled solid every 4 feet); we've been doing this for a long time and so far no problems.
Some people forget that a house is just that, a house, not a high riser and they suggest and spec for the best, not the most practical and cost efficient, not realizing that even the best materials and methods can fail if they are not used properly, in other words, is not just getting the best materials,is about getting the best guy to use them.
Now that you know more, the decision is yours.
Good Luck!