Yeah it does help but it normally seems so useless and makes drawing such a hassle I would end up with a sketchbook full of pictures I'll never finish. Its really great for when I'm trying to draw the same character constantly with correct proportions to show off multiple costume designs. But I've never really used it to its full potential I've mostly used it to help understand how to draw a certain pose i want to draw.
Huhu~, I see this once again.
Guidelines are necessary. You need them. They are very far from useless, and I want to start to drill that into your head a little bit.
I was exactly where you were - I thought they were useless as well. I never saw the point of them. But now, I can't stop using them; I need them! Without them, my figures would look
close, but not perfect. The human brain is very powerful in picking up these subtleties of what is good and what is not; what looks right and what looks wrong.
Is it a hassle at first? Sure. But you'll soon learn that it becomes far from a hassle, and rather a time saver, when you start putting your characters in very difficult poses. Those little preliminary sketches made of guidelines, sticks, and basic shapes will save you a load of frustration.
Perhaps you do not understand their use now. But you will, given time. Especially once you start delving into anatomy, proportions, figure drawing, etc.
Good luck, young warrior. Keep drawing.