I started playing poker in 2018, and back then, I didn't know that
studying is extremely important. I used to just play a lot of
freerolls and watch YouTube videos to try and play the correct hand ranges for each position. I also played a lot of cash games, and thanks to playing thousands of cash hands, I learned how to play
deep-stack.
I used to think A-K was an incredibly strong hand at 100bb, but the truth is, with a 100bb stack, you will lose more than you win when playing a 200bb pot or even less. I learned that I should 3-bet A-K 100% of the time. Most of the time, villains only call with pockets pairs, sometimes with suited Aces, broadways like QJs and JTs, or suited connectors like T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, and even 54s or 43s.
When an A-T-5 flop hits, for instance, I make a bet and face a check-raise. Most of the time, you are already losing to sets or two pairs—and that is the kind of thing you only learn by playing. So yes, in my opinion, playing a lot of hands makes you a better player.
However, studying high-quality content while playing makes you even better.