I think opening knowlege is very inportant agaisnt cirtain openings such as:
Pononzi-Stiniez gambit ( can't spell that), Stafford gambit ( I have won a good amount of games for learning the refutaion), Scotch gambit / Italian open (You gotta know d5).
Knowing even the basic mainline is very helpful in these openings.
Nowdays, whenever I face the stafford, im happy becuse my opponent gave me a +2 advantage.
Knowing the lines of some trap openings saves you and punishes those who play it.
The OP has been playing chess "for a year now," and thinks he is therefore qualified to put forth sweeping theories about the game. Wow...
He didnt say it was definate.
He was asking for other people's opinions.