A lot of what you're writing rings true. That is, if one is rote copying or "offloading", you're less likely to retain or truly understand material. I can certa

A lot of what you're writing rings true. That is, if one is rote copying or "offloading", you're less likely to retain or truly understand material. I can certainly relate. But on the other hand, concepts you're building up in interconnected data sets (one-note etc), or anki cards you author _yourself_ are likely forging new neural pathways via the 'generation effect'. They are more a case of 'note making' than 'note taking'. In these cases, when you're reviewing, you're likely not just recollecting random unrelated facts, but re-experiencing the understanding you built up whilst authoring. Perhaps thats a nuance to the risk that you're highlighting: whatever the medium (anki, org-mode, etc), there are risks to our cognitive abilities atrophying over time if we skip that generation phase.