Alex, obviously you have different opinions / experiences about what
are effective and non-effective means for learning, and that's good,
because everyone approaches these things differently.  I can only
speak from my own experiences.

The reason I find the lists a good learning method is because,
although there is a flood of postings they run the gamut.  There are
very beginner type questions and then there are questions / comments
about stuff that I have no way of even following.  The advantage is
it's an "iron sharpens iron" type of environment.  I only have to pay
attention to those things that are in my sphere of understanding at
any given moment.  Often seeing the different approaches / answers
works in a mentoring kind of way.  For me that's beneficial.

Hopefully you can codify that which you think would be beneficial for
those people in that "in-between" stage and provide an effective
platform for them.  I really think that has merit.  Good luck.

Michael