> I'd say that learning the principles was much more useful
Well, of course one should learn both :) An interesting question to ask is: principles first or applications and techniques first? Maybe it depends on the individual. For me, certainly it has to be the application. Principles without application would not keep me engaged long enough... Ideally, it should be something like 30% high level principles with applications, and then the rest of the principles and fundamentals later on, which really elucidate how and why the technique works.
Well, of course one should learn both :) An interesting question to ask is: principles first or applications and techniques first? Maybe it depends on the individual. For me, certainly it has to be the application. Principles without application would not keep me engaged long enough... Ideally, it should be something like 30% high level principles with applications, and then the rest of the principles and fundamentals later on, which really elucidate how and why the technique works.
That's my two cents anyway. :)