I work on the principle that before I can be confident in using it for the simple stuff, I need to know what every last thing on my camera does. Even if I'm unlikely to be locking the mirror up, making multiple exposures or using my pop-up to control three-group CLS scenarios - I still want to know where the menu options are and how to set them up.
This is why I like cameras with real buttons for the regularly used stuff. What's the point in being able to select single-point AF focus mode if you can't do it by feel with one button whilst the camera is still at your eye? If you're able to control your ISO as easily as you can adjust your shutter speed, you're more likely to use it at the drop of a hat to give you the extra stop or two that you need to make an image work. If you can separate out the AF lock from the AE lock, or assign custom buttons for the stuff that you use all the time, you're going to be better prepared for when you've got about ten seconds to make the frame you want...
