IMHO, I have not found the academic-level theorizing about RPGs as helpful as I have found the amateur stuff for sussing out my views and preferences about roleplaying games. The sort of theory and questions that interest academics of TRPGs are drawn to addressing tend to be different, IME, than those of hobbyists (including designers). The same is true, again IME, when dealing with academic theories and hobby theorists (including designers) regarding digital games (e.g., computer, video, mobile, etc.).