I left paid job to go to college at 28 ish. Think i really had the customer service skills and other stuff already from the range of jobs which i had done and hated. I kinda think the same as the others, a bit of both does you the world of good. Think you do need to master what you are making before the speed comes but it does come!! You do learn the correct way of doing something and then its just like anything else, once you are qualified you do it the way you like to but at least you know the other way. Also, you get the benefit usually of meeting a few tutors at college with different ideas and possibly in a shop you may get just one persons idea and you are paid to do it her or his way which is fine for that shop but then you may want to move on. god i use 100 words when 10 will do - sorry!!!