Is Learning Morse Code by Sound Better Than Memorizing Dots and Dashes?

I've been getting more interested in Morse code lately, and one thing I've noticed is that simply memorizing a chart of dots and dashes doesn't always make decoding easier.

For beginners, it seems more useful to hear the rhythm of each character and gradually associate that sound with the letter. For example, E is just one short signal, while T is one long signal. From there, learning combinations such as A and N becomes much easier because you start recognizing the pattern rather than counting every individual symbol.

Timing also makes a bigger difference than I originally expected. A dash is longer than a dot, while the pauses between characters and words help separate the message.

I've been using an online Morse translator to test short words, switch between normal text and Morse, and listen to the signals. It's a simple way to check whether I actually recognize something instead of just reminding the written chart: https://morsecodetranslatr.com/

For anyone who has learned Morse before, what worked better for you — remembering the characters visually first, or learning them mainly through sound and repetition?