Question

Hello Rabbi,
What do you think about studying the Rif in order, as a substitute for studying Talmud for breadth?
The advantages are obvious: it is faster and easier to study, which makes it possible to grasp the “ratio” of the Talmud as well as the approach of one of the great medieval authorities (Rishonim).
The disadvantages are also obvious: a significant part of the give-and-take of the discussion is omitted, so it is not always really possible to understand the flow of the argument. The aggadic passages are also omitted.
Does the Rabbi recommend this as a substitute for breadth study (and only that)? We are not talking about a yeshiva student, but about a working layman who knows how to learn.