Honestly, for a long time this was the standard way of learning in academia. Lecturers gave lectures and everything else was on the students to find out (from books).

Right now we reached the other end of the pendulum swing, where everything is hand-fed to the students.

I disagree. Doing my math degree I had constantly sat in classes where I had no idea what I was being taught. Doing my own research helped me understand the topic a lot better.

this is my favourite way to learn

If the problems are interesting, why not. If they are not and they are purely abstract without purpose, I might not feel motivated at all.