With all the different kinds of GPS and flight planning stuff etc so easily available now it reminds me of my high school math teachers saying “you’ll never have a calculator on you at all times!”
I have a buddy that I've been giving lessons. An iPad app absolutely will do most of the work for you. However, learning how to be good with a manual computer leads to a better understanding of the basics.
I tell him honestly that other than training, I don't plot out cross country flights. How he's learning now is not how he'll do it once he's out in the wild. However, doing it this way lays the groundwork for real understanding, and develops that Spidey sense for when something seems a bit off.
Finally, I have two or three Jeppesen CR manual computers. One is in my iPad bag, and one is on the door pocket of my 140. I still use them. Like paper and pencil, sometimes it's just faster and easier to use.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk