Jelena,
These "career" questions and replies are subjective with no right and wrong answers!
But from a macro level, and taking many things as assumptions; I do not agree with -
1.
Actually working with a bad SD consultant might be even better because then you'll have to learn about SD to avoid making ABAP changes for something that may be handled by a configuration change.
Members going into a module (learning a new module) should associate themselves with "experts" of that field.
A new member can not just learn a module because the "expert" of that field is not doing a good job!
2.
Simply poking around in a real-life SAP system is better than having a book. And if you don't have access to such system then I'm afraid no book will be of much help.
Both "poking" and having the knowledge about where and what to poke are equally important.
E.g. a mechanic learns the theory, sees an experienced mechanic do his/her job...and eventually starts experimenting in a test car, and then finally, slowly-slowly tries his/ her hand on client cars. This should be the way to go forward.
