I do have to disagree with this. As I said from my post, many players learned how to go through vanilla minecraft by outside sources. Sure, they learned some tactics by themselves, however they did not learn, say, how to make a nether portal or how to make potions. If they were forced to find out how to make these themselves, they would literally be placing random things in random places to see what works.
It's one thing if you're given the puzzle pieces with clear pictures and connectors, however it's another if there is no indication as to what they represent or how they connect. I do see how a direct guide can make it less enjoyable to some people, however if you had to rely on NEI to find "oh, this has X stats and does this," it would be quicker and as enjoyable to find the same information on a wiki, which is what
@shhfiftyfive is trying to say. People who prefer to piece the information together by themselves can do that, like you, the people who want to know at least the barebones of getting from start to finish and it's branches can do that, like me, and people who want to know particularly how to survive without having to figure that much out for themselves aside from technique can do that, like fifty.
Honestly, even with the best information this pack is crazy hard. The majority of people just hate confusion rather than hating failing.