Your blog answered many of the questions I had in mind, especially regarding theoretical knowledge and its contradiction with practical knowledge.
I have taken many online courses, and they were very valuable, but I found myself unable to apply them. I have always asked myself why, simply put, there must be practical, field-based support. Anything you gain knowledge from is applied in the same way, and then you are asked to invent something new of your own and apply it several times. This is the teaching method.
I look it at from the perspective of surfing. I can read a book on surfing, and know everything about the technique. But the first time out in the water, I am going to fall off.