Line work vs hangar rats, which one truly builds the better mechanic?

I spent last Thursday at the MRO facility in Tulsa helping a buddy with his AOG situation, and it got me thinking about how different the work is. Watch a line guy chase a MEL write-up at 2am in the rain versus a heavy check crew pulling panels for a week straight. The line mechanic has to think on their feet with no manual handy and a plane full of passengers waiting. The heavy check guy gets to work in a controlled hangar with all the tools and time in the world. I honestly think line maintenance hones raw problem solving harder because you cant hide behind a work bench. But then again, heavy check catches those hidden cracks and corrosion that would never show up during a quick turn. So which side really separates the good mechanics from the average ones, or are they just different beasts entirely? Has anyone else switched between both and found one way tougher than the other?