Hot take: I think 1v1 is an incredible way to develop your catan skills.
Curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Let me start by saying 1v1 is by no means perfect, and I am not saying it is a superior version of Catan. I'm just saying that I started playing 1v1 for quick games, I've noticed a huge jump in my skills, and its paid off in more wins with the usual group of people I play with.
I think that 1v1 forced me to look at the board a completely different way. Paying much more attention to potential expansion spots, resource scarcity, and ports because those three factors are that much more exaggerated in 1v1. As a result, I analyze the board in my standard games with a much more wholistic view of what's going on. I do not default towards the same strategies when playing the standard game, but at least keeping those in mind in my perception of where I should go and what I should do has helped me see the game from completely new angles.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar, and if so, was it through 1v1? If not I'd love to hear some more ways people have experienced something similar.