I used to teach it in a past life, and think it is very important. We were in R22 mainly and also H300. We used to get plenty of height, 3000' feet or more, and pull it up in the hover. For some reason hovering downwind seemed to help (probably because into wind you still might have had some forward speed). Then, slowly and progressively start lowering the collective to descend whilst 'fishing' around for your downwash as you descend with cyclic. When you got it in the sweet spot it would fall out of the sky in the blink of an eye. After doing it countless times, I could tell by the feel when we were close to it and in the danger area, and think this is valuable knowledge to have. It would enable me to recognise and react far quicker than if I had never experienced it.
For those of you who haven't been there, why don't you post what you have been taught? I'd be interested to hear what they say if they only do it in the classroom.
You can't learn it all from a book.