I have been self taught blender for around a year now. Whenever I can get a shortcut that cuts down my time and limits my mouse (keeping it on the window where I am working) the better.
I am looking forward to the rest of the course.
I consider shortcuts very useful and not intimidating at all. I must say, anyway, that I usually have a document next to me in which I note all the shortcuts that we learn during the course, just in case I forget anything.