Nobody’s saying it’s totally invalid. I think you’re reading that into what they’re saying and you’re talking past each other. The complaint is that students w

Nobody’s saying it’s totally invalid. I think you’re reading that into what they’re saying and you’re talking past each other. The complaint is that students work backwards without understanding why working backwards is different than working forwards. So if they happen to do it correctly (e.g. by using reversible steps), then it’s only success via accident. Done correctly, and on purpose, with the different care that isn’t required working the other way, yeah it’s legit, but that’s not what’s being complained about.