Even if the bits #5, 6, and 7 do not go outside the chip they are still on the data bus. If thery have nowhere to go at the end of the write cycle they just fall off the edge of the Earth so to speak. There is no real problem that I can see.
I think it more like habit and a good one to keep Like the 12f683 only 6 pin for I/O and
you can set it b'000000 or B'00000000 both work same with any chip it reads from right to left so any past the 5 it uses. Get a 0 any way. And if you get in the habit of not
using 8 when you use a Port with 8 you'll do it wrong a time or to. I always use 8