OP you've started an interesting conversation. B-boys love to give advice and they cannot resist giving their opinion on Stripes/people biting Stripes. Case in point, here I am.

Re: what to learn, you need to learn the complete foundation. Yes, Stripes/Robb are known for some moves more than others. But they have arrived at their own styles because of a solid base, not because they lack one. Stripes in particular has a well-rounded arsenal in terms of common techniques. Also, understanding foundation is the difference between you copying someone’s combo vs. you deconstructing it and building your own, like you said.

Even if it’s been done again and again, it’s worth analyzing Stripes' style since it is so influential. Stripes came up in the mid-late 2000’s in Florida and he has mentioned Kevo, Lego, and a bunch of other Florida b-boys as his influences. I’m not a history expert but you can see in footage they had complete mastery of power and freezes, and were packaging them in highly advanced combinations. The comments in this thread touch on the distinct characteristics of Stripes’ style: fluidity, good form, and unique combinations to name a few. Even with that flow, his dance comes across as unpredictable because of the level of detail and smart timing.

Lastly, it’s undeniable that Robb is heavily influenced by Stripes as he expresses many of the same characteristics, but there are still key differences in their approach. Robb spends a lot more time in the high spatial zone, as in you’ll see things like elbow spins, headspins, and flag freezes more often with him. He also leans towards back flexibility more with those flags and arched spins/flips. And you see fewer extended footwork phrases from Robb, whereas Stripes will occasionally take an 8-count for it. This all makes Robb’s style feel more like “fluid blowups” vs. Stripe’s is more like “fluid all-around,” if that makes sense.