There's a lot of research that keeping a handwritten notebook is a strong reinforcement of memory. The best theory I've seen/heard is that the re-compilation necessary to put it on paper in different words (we tend to resynthesize more when writing than when typing) is the key.
I look at a lot of it as drills. I don't think that's how it was intended, originally, but I can't really get myself to believe some of the techniques were ever really going to become go-to for any likely situations. But they do help teach important principles that become useful in adapting the go-to techniques to other situations, or they develop some physical sub-skill (like a speed bag drill does). I try to de-emphasize those parts and guide students to spend more time on the areas that have the most direct application. I looked at removing some techniques, but determined I'd need to come up with other drills to replace what folks learned from them, so they stayed.
I think some of it was down to try to standardize as a style expands beyond a single instructor, which I don’t see as a good idea.
Sorry, no, the standardization is. It means all instructors are trying to use the same methods, which won’t be optimal for some instructors or students.
Refinement, absolutely. But once you standardize it for other instructors, they can no longer assist in further refinement and evolution - a process that should be never end.
