Encoders are a great tool as long as you don't rely on them entirely. I'm reading some articles though that are horror stories about people who learned on encoders. Now that's the only way they can code. They can't pass exams or get credentials because they can't code by the book. They can't change employers unless they use the same system.
Long Story Alert: A deacon at our church is also on the Board of Directors of a local hospital. After church one Sunday he said, "Hey Linda, don't you teach coding? We got rid of some of our coders and started using encoding machines. When we lost about $300,000 in income we realized we needed coders who knew how to code, not just a couple who knew how to use encoders. We got the coders back and income is coming back up again.