" I've also heard it's best just to study question banks religiously rather than using the books"
If you care about the industry, and you care about knowing and understanding anything, you'll read the books cover to cover.
I hate the question banks. I don't care how good they are, and I don't care what percentage of the ATPL syllabus is pointless.
Memorising the question banks is a demonstration of lazyness and shows a lack of ability in being able to learn and retain information. Not the kind of person I want in charge of my life at 500mph.