So many progressions can be understood via the circle of fifths: it was only after following the circle that I suddenly understood about resolving discords better than I ever had.

Jack's ladder is only substituting one mnemonic for another - if you're not going all the way around it doesn't matter in playing terms which you use.

I find the circle is easy to visualize and is used almost universally - why re-invent the wheel.

Stu