i agree that memorization by internalization (concepts) is different from (and superior to) memorization by rote (text); i was agreeing with the other fellow that rote memorization is not the end goal. however, to me they're both "memorization" because they both represent work to achieve fluency in application.
however, i made my comment because i think i disagree that spaced repetition has no place in learning. i think that if you dig around in the Polar guy's earlier comments, you'll find threads where folks like michael nielsen are talking about using spaced repetition tools for much more than purely textual memorization of theorems - basically, cycles of repetition and (re)synthesis. so i don't feel it's right to completely shut him down about card decks. you may disagree, of course.
When your definition of memorization encompasses all forms of learning, saying memorization is crucial to learning is pretty much a tautology. No one claimed that amnesia sufferers are perfectly good for mathematics. Same goes for repetition. No one expects you to understand and never forget the theory of cohomology by writing down a long exact sequence once.
The thing is, the root comment of this thread specifically talks about "continually review what you've learned and NEVER forget anything" through looking at highlighted notes in the software mentioned (a somewhat out-of-place plug, I'd say). That's not how math works. You refresh your memory by tackling preferably new problems. Reciting proofs is largely pointless (except for certain very elegant proofs, in which case you probably won't need to recite them anyway); reciting definitions and theorems is even less useful.
> it's meant to 'freeze' all of your knowledge so that you never forget it - ever.
Yeah, no, you don't "freeze" your mathematical knowledge.
however, i made my comment because i think i disagree that spaced repetition has no place in learning. i think that if you dig around in the Polar guy's earlier comments, you'll find threads where folks like michael nielsen are talking about using spaced repetition tools for much more than purely textual memorization of theorems - basically, cycles of repetition and (re)synthesis. so i don't feel it's right to completely shut him down about card decks. you may disagree, of course.