These exercises have absolutely been helpful thus far. I've written two novels, one completely pantsed, and the other based on a loose outline.

Never have I done so much prep work. I'm usually in a rush to get started writing. (Even now, it's taking all my willpower not to start! ) But I'm enjoying it. Fleshing out the characters ahead of time, brainstorming for conflict ideas before I'm in the middle of writing--it's fun! And probably necessary for a noir mystery of the sort that I'm attempting to craft.

And it is absolutely sending my brain into "extra dastardly" territory. ;)