As simple as it sounds, knowing what is needed and what can be avoided is an important part of making mining better in Minecraft. If the player has a chest full of charcoal, they know that when they start digging they can mark it and save it for later to find resources they lack or need for a new project.

Of course, it's great to gather more information, but sometimes it's best to focus on the task at hand and focus on what's most important.