AS if recent i've got a bit bored of runescape, and as i have exams coming up in six weeks or so (I love GCSEs...) runescape does get a lot of time in my life. However I decided to liquidate all my stuff, and spend all the money on logs for 99 firemaking. Training firemaking means that I can log on for like 10mins, get 5 invens of logs burnt and log off and go do something else. It gives more direction to my gaming, and I'm sure 99 cooking works much the same way, but with lots less clicking.... :

 

That's true, cooking is a type of skill that you can train on and off comfortably.

For me, Cooking, alongside with Fishing, is just the action of 'getting food'. I see the levels and experience as a byproduct, because I am yet to come across something in which I have to regularly use a food better than swordfish, and I'm far from thinking that getting a 99 is within my reach at the moment. Besides, if I want a 99, I'll go with a harder skill like Hunter. :geek:

 

 

 

To answer the title: Neither. It's just a necessity for other activities, particularly combat.