HP Prime too complicated

[parisse]

I agree with Claudio L. and Joe Horn about CAS.
When you meet a new math concept, I think it is important to do some *simple* computations by hand because that helps understanding. But why spend a lot of time on more complicated computations or if you want to explore? Then it's better to run the computation with a CAS (on a PC or on a calculator or on a tablet or even on a smartphone, that does not really matter for the maths, it's just easier to do it on a calc in a school because you have it with you, it is instant ON and it has a physical adapted keyboard). And if you are using the concept in a more complex context, using the CAS you can concentrate on the new concept.
For me, once you can not solve a problem with your brain, using paper+pencil is a form of technology (think of the times where paper was not available!), using a CAS, you just replace one form with a more efficient one. That does not mean you should use a CAS when you can solve a problem with your brain, because it's important to exercise your brain.
And by the way, CAS calculators are not necessarily forbidden or CAS-de-activated during exams: in France for example they are not.