Dj Lethal's Queries
It looks like DJ is the inquisitive kind but a little slow on "diskarte" to get the answer but to go back to his queries:
1) deviation / variation - if it's magnetic you are referring to, then go check the charts and your compass card. Also depends on how often you correct your track enroute i.e. the more frequent you make the correction, the less accrued deviation and variation.
2) VOR/DME and ADF - yes, the other poster is correct that these are completely different animals and yes, you can use both if there are concurrent facilities. However, you should treat one as the primary and the other as the crosscheck. Farther away from the station, ADF's have better coverage because they are UHF but as you get closer, the needle could be very sensitive hence VOR's tend to be more useful.
I do not agree with the other poster's view that ADF/NDB's are on their way out. You should incorporate them into your basic flying since they are still in existince all over the world (you may remember what happened to ron Brown's flight at Sarajevo). Earlier in your training, use less autopilot and more instrument scanning. Forget the "tamad" mindset, your diligence early on will pay dividends later.
3) Protractor use- these will be acceptable as long as you look outside the window and scan your instruments to verify where you are at any point in flight.
Hope this helps.