Planning an Asian award trip (ORD-TPE-BKK). Will be arriving on UA or AC in T1 and connecting to BR out of T3. This will be a UA award and all flights will be on the same ticket/PNR. So I assume the bags will be checked through to BKK.

I visited the Pearson website and the customized connecting guide mentions picking up and dropping off luggage. Is this really required?

I don't think it is such a terrible requirement. Just want to know how much time to plan for the connection.