On "git gud" being more than just trolling

As I am on my 2.5 playthrough of Bloodborne (abandoned a hybrid build that I didn't end up liking for a simpler Skill build), I am ringing my Beckoning Bell in Byrgenwerth to get some help with idiot Rom, who has killed me twice thus far.

Frustration abounds in FromSoft games, but I noticed something on this playthrough that made me think about the one piece of advice the community likes to dole out: "git gud" (get good, for those of you who don't know how to decipher that).

I don't think it's actually trolling or just being a dick; at least not as much as one would think. You see, other than fear being a factor (which ENB spoke of during his playthrough), the way to become better at this game is actually to...get good. Yes, knowing how to level up is good. Yes, equipment matters. What really makes a difference, however, is how you as a player become better. Your reflexes, making sense of the game's mechanics and taking advantage of them where you must, dealing with enemies in ways you didn't before, etc.

I really noticed this just a while ago, as I was going through the motions unlocking the one important shortcut in Byrgenwerth and getting ready to fight the arcane hunter that's in the mansion.

I was afraid at first, so I rang my beckoning bell. I thought I could defeat her if I had some help. Help was nowhere to be found, however, so I thought: "You know what? Fuck it. Let's do this." - and I faced her solo, head on.

That was one of the most satisfying victories in a souls game I've ever had. I took many hits and used up almost all of my resources (which led to me losing horribly to Rom when help finally arrived for a different purpose than what I had requested it for), but I studied her movement, took cover when I needed to, "parried" her with my gun for visceral attacks and actually felt myself "getting good" while I was doing all of this.

That's about it. I know this must be very obvious to many of you, but I wanted to share my specific experience and the more general feeling of accomplishments that FromSoft games give.

How about you? I'd love to hear whether you think "git gud" is just being a dick or actual advice, and what your general or specific experiences with becoming better in Bloodborne (or any other souls game, if you want to add to the general feeling) have been.