I think for every person it is different. I think there is a certain amount of talent necessary to shorten the learning curve. For me, I sucked at FMQ, I hated the sandwiching pinning process and I just didn't enjoy FMQ on a domestic.
I got a longarm and I hit the ground running! I had a very short learning curve. Here is a link to the very first quilt I did on my LA and I only practiced for about a month on one sandwich before doing this.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-77776-1.htm
But it is not the same for everyone. I know some people who have had their LA for years and still only do a meander or a panto.
Both take a lot of practice to get really good but some people seem to have a natural apptitude for one or the other and seem to cut the learning curve to almost nothing. Others take years.