I think it's somewhere in the middle. For some queries, being able to ask off the top of your head without thinking is good. Think 'what day of the week was Ju

I think it's somewhere in the middle. For some queries, being able to ask off the top of your head without thinking is good. Think 'what day of the week was June 14th, 2002?' or 'Who is the mayor of Los Angeles?' For quick questions with clear answers, the current system is a huge advantage over what we had before. For other, more complicated queries, the act of composing your search and considering your keywords, etc. is a step in the process that helps a searcher mentally understand the results they're going to receive along with what they mean. Having to stop and consider makes you aware that you're working within a system and its constraints, which makes it more suitable for questions that are complex or not socially settled. Not all information is the same.