Really? That's the exact opposite of how I think of it. An encyclopedia is something you learn an initial shallow understanding from. A field specific reference text is something you reference. eg. My linear algebra text book.

For sure re usefulness, which is why moultano's work is greatly appreciated.

Is this a garden path sentence? I hope so because the beginning almost completely contradicts the ending.

Something to learn from, to me, means tutorial-like material. Something that gives an overview, examples, general theory, more examples, exercises, cross-correlations, and other things intended to help you to learn.

Something you reference means, to me, something in which you go and check facts. Hence the contrast with the idea of learning from it.

Some people can learn from reference works. In my experience they are in a minority. Most people need extensive examples, context, relationships, and exercises.

I believe WikiPedia is intended to be a reference work, something to be referred to in order to check facts. I believe WikiPedia is intended not to have tutorial material or other aspects designed to aid learning.

I hope that makes my beliefs clear, as well as my understanding of the specific terms used.

And I'm confused by your use of the term "Garden Path Sentence." The sentence you quote doesn't seem to offer any opportunity to re-interpret it partway through, nor to have an alternative interpretation (which suddenly becomes impossible to continue) up to some point. So I guess all you mean is that you don't understand, because you think the sentence is oxymoronic or, more simply, self-contradictory. If that's the case, I hope I've clarified it sufficiently.

Sorry if I came off a bit flippant earlier, WP is definitely a pet peeve of mine (or rather, what WP could be vs. the disaster minority of wrong headed admins have turned it into)

I actually agree with you -- that WP is different than say a tutorial or other path to learning. But reference works are one of the primary tools of pretty much any sort of pedagogy.

I agree that it's a different kind of learning...or rather perhaps reference books are something used as part of a tutorial of other teaching system.

But I give up. When so many people take what I say in a sense other than I intend, I know it's time to give up for the night. Clearly I'm not expressing myself very well, so I'm outta here.