I agree with the sentiment that NLP (patterns) is a way and not THE way.
It depends on the individual, really.
I think NLP is a very powerful methodology. I have seen people who are so good at it that their persuasion skills could be described as frightening.
When NLP is taught well it basically shows you that your brain does in fact have a coding system for information and that when you know this coding system you can create powerful changes for yourself.
When you learn to interpret the coding systems of others and speak to them in their own language, so to speak, you can be powerfully persuasive and effective.
What NLP doesn't give you is the wisdom to know what changes should and shouldn't be made.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should, right?
Also, NLP can be very fast and some things might be best taken slow.
