Jim is 100% right. Experience is what allows you to get away with using some of the lightweight methods and visiting some of the more remote areas. Also I think that we all are still learning and sometimes I think I was lucky to survive my early trips. Especially when I think back to leading groups of highschool kids as the "experienced" guy with only a small amount of trail time myself.

Find someone to learn from but use your common sense, if the guy seems like he's blownin' smoke he probably is.