Whoa!
No, spotters or not doesn't come into it.
Without wishing to speak for the others, what I think we are saying is that an ATCO who takes a wider interest in ATC, and wider still the rest of aviation, will make a more rounded ATCO.
Someone who is keen to go on fam flights, keen to chat to flight crew if and when they visit, keen to go on visits to neighboring units to discuss mutual problems etc. Someone who is keen to learn how different airlines operate their a/c, and why etc etc.