I have not even started looking at CAM. I have no idea. I am trying
to cover the basics and learn G code the hard way. I have discovered
that learning things the hard way is the best way to learn.

No question you're doing the right thing. being well grounded in manual
machining and gcoding is critical to being good at this hobby. For the parts
I make, CAM is needed only occasionally. I'm lucky, I have my son do these
after I design in AutoCAD. Making a good gcode program in CAM is difficult
if you do it only every now and then.

Karl