> Every prompt and answer is contributing value toward your progress toward the final solution

This has not been my experience, maybe sometimes, but certainly not always.

As an example: asking chatgpt/gemini about how to accomplish some sql data transformation set me back in finding the right answer because the answer it did give me was so plausible but also super duper not correct in the end. Would've been better off not using it in that case.

Brings to mind "You can't build a ladder to the moon"