>>4012204>A digital camera removes the incentive to practice critically because there is no penalty for mistakes.Sure there is: You'll have bad photos.
You'll look at your mistake and go "Oops, shouldn't have done that. Should do it differently next time".
No one's saying that you should put a digital camera in continuous mode and hold down the shutter until you hit 20K to get good. We're saying that you should go out with a digital camera and try things and think about what you're trying critically and consider what works and what doesn't and try more things. Shoot in exactly the same way you would with a film camera, but do it *more* and do it with instant feedback.
Starting with film punishes you for practicing, and especially punishes you for experimenting. That's bad for learning. You've got to have the freedom to make mistakes to learn what is and isn't a mistake.