As magic script author, who completed the book step by step, I want to say, you won't get "intimately familiar with the OS" after completion. What you will learn: * needed packages: purpose, how and in which order to build them * really basics of OS configuration * fault intolerance to mistakes

So, why I've built such script? I think it is needed for the next steps, where you actually might want to modify kernel/tools/configuration to gain the knowledge how things are (not-)working.

You are talking about kernel versions?

Version 4.12 was from July 2017 until September 2017 (0)

Right now the main line kernel is at 4.14, but it has not changed so much that it really matters for learning Linux.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel#4.x.y_releases

I am. Do you think the same steps will work with 4.14? (Or at least that any changes I need to make would be straightforward enough for a relative beginner to figure out?)

It is impossible for me to determine your level, I would expect it to be straightforward enough.

But probably best to stick with the kernel that the doc is written for.