Videos are very nice for learning how to replace a broken garbage disposal or how to upgrade your laptop to 4 gig. Problem for the Video Professor – YouTube has plenty of free material on both those topics.
However, I agree, videos — or even books, although a decent book will get you started — are not the way to learn complex computer applications. You need to install the app, then use it to accomplish progressively more complex tasks. Each time you run up against something you don't understand, turn to Google (not the Video Professor, not Borders, B&N, nor Amazon). Before you know it, you will be an expert.
I used to be a big consumer of computer books (and vendor manuals, neatly housed in loose-leaf binders). No longer. Now it's just dual monitor — what I'm working on in one, and Google in the other. I work until I hit a snag, then turn to Google for the answer. Much easier than indexes, card catalogs, etc.
I guess everybody has his owning "learning style" (hate that term, as abused by educrats), but it's hard to take you dual monitor on a city bus or to your kid's hockey practice. Also, a well written Apress or MS press book organizes the material in a logical and progressive fashion like any good text book. If you are diligent about doing the examples and exercises and progressing chapter to chapter until the end, I think the vast majority of people will emerge far better versed in whatever topic, than if they just sat down and decided to learn something like WPF. The same goes for stupid corporate training classes and Video Professor". It's amazing companies will spend $1,500 to send their employees to a two day thing that barely scratches the surface of a topic that's thoroughly covered in a $50 book.
Want to really learn a topic? Read a book. Methodically read every page and do every exercise.