No. Consider drills (and building habits more generally) as compressing knowledge into preconscious processes. The first gunslinger could be just as engaged as

No. Consider drills (and building habits more generally) as compressing knowledge into preconscious processes. The first gunslinger could be just as engaged as the second. Because they don't have to devote brain calories to the draw, they are focused on other things actively in conscious thought. I think the "OK Corral" analogy breaks down here because life isn't like gun duels. But the first gunslinger is given freedom to approach with "higher-level thoughts" just as the second is. Requiring some kind of stimulus to react to doesn't pass the sniff test here.