Yes. It's sort of like, an object doesnt spin in free fall because each particle has the same velocity. But if say on the right of the object we place a wall that exerts friction on the right side only then the right side will be slower than the left and so turning happens. However if the wall was frictionless then the affect would be the same as if there was no wall at all. (This is what I heard from some apparent physics expert, not my original idea/analogy)
So maybe this analogy extends to the incline as it is a case of some horizontal component of free fall.
The way I imagine it is to treat the sphere as a polyon. In a rotating polygon, only one point touches the ground for some time, and it must be stationary. In order for that atom to be stationary you need friction.
and /0: as to your question about choosing the pivot point, I now realise the usefulness of choosing the contact as pivot point because it discards the need for knowing the friction. If you remember, this is a common strategy in torque problems i.e: beams being supported by poles etc.
I just chose the contact as pivot for aesthetic reasons because I liked the polygon argument

but choosing the pivot as centre still demonstrates how friction is neccesary, just doesn't give the exact number as easily.