The simpler and more detailed, the better. And having said that....I don't follow the directions for many patterns. For several years now, I find I don't focus on the directions. It's like someone is writing Chinese and expecting me to understand it in English. Even after reading the directions several times, I just can't make them stick in my mind. And when they show everything that has to be cut out of one piece of fabric, I get more confused. I know it is necessary if you are doing a fat quarter pattern and then I will knuckle down and pay attention and just do it.
Instead, I use the finished size of the blocks as noted in the pattern to draw the blocks in EQ7 then I just use the EQ7 rotary cutting instructions and cut one block at a time, unless all the blocks are exactly the same. The exception is a paper piecing pattern. I need all the help I can get with those.