I can 100% attest to this. I always played Random Battlegrounds and never stepped foot in Arena. I still found immense enjoyment in spectating Arenas via streamers. I would learn so that I could apply the knowledge of how my class/spec would and does counter other classes/specs, in Random Battlegrounds.
I would watch AWC for gathering knowledge so that I could produce application of that knowledge as well, in Random Battlegrounds.