The opening is in no way like that until you get to extremely high-level high-skill games, which will take years if not a decade Until then, all you have to do

The opening is in no way like that until you get to extremely high-level high-skill games, which will take years if not a decade Until then, all you have to do is understand a few basic opening goals; and you're good to go. You don't have to memorize 20 moves deep of every opening if you are 800-1900 ELO, that's just silly and completely wrong.