With the 1500hr NPRM being the hot topic these days, there seems to be a lot of talk about giving credit for classroom courses. Having never taken any such class, my understanding is that they deal with turbine engines, high altitude aerodynamics, air, hydraulic systems etc.

Now it's one thing to memorize some facts from the class, but something entirely different to understand what's going on and be able to put the knowledge to practical use on the line.

My question to those who have taken those classes or who have flown with pilots who have taken the classes is:

Do classroom courses help a new airline pilot function more effectively in a 121 environment, and do they make up for the lack of experience?