gabs-
“so halacha l’maisa is kvitlech assur or muttar?”
Many posters here include mekoros, which can be quite helpful.
For one who will look in the Shulchan Orech or Mishna Berura, a mekor listing can provide a shortcut to something that they would do anyway.
For all others who are unsure of a halacha, while learning and discussing svoros are definitely talmud Torah, for an actual psak (or halocha lemaiseh according to a rav without an actual psak), ask your LOR.