> If you don't get the fundamentals down,
  > you can't handle the applications.

Absolutely, which is why I advocatedoing the algebra, doing the manipulation, and doing "the sums" until the act of doing them is almost reflex.

  > The real question is, why do you need assessment?

I'm assuming you're serious. Society demands assessment. Government demands assessment. Employers demand assessment (and then ignore it and apply their own tests). Students themselves are conditioned to demand assessment - there are many instances of teachers or lecturers playing with the idea of not giving grades, and mostly the students hated it. (whether it worked better is another question)

FWIW - I advocate a radical shift in what's done, and am working subversively on a ten year plan to make changes. Just becuase I can identify some problems, don't assume I believe they are real, or insurmountable.