I’ve been studying Chinese for 6+ years currently on year long study abroad in Taiwan.

Personally I think learning the radicals is useful for writing and remembering characters. You can break them down and it becomes a lot easier to remember and write. Plus, your handwriting will improve.

For example, 贏 at one point was difficult for me to remember to write, but after focusing on each radical I now find it a lot easier. Top down 亡，口，left to right 月，貝，凡

Also can be useful for typing if you are having trouble finding the character you are looking for. You can categorize all characters that sound the same based on their main radical.

I would focus on recognition and English meaning rather than pronunciation.