In your concealed-carry class, the instructor mentioned that staging the trigger, also referred to as trigger prepping, was a waste of time and should be ignored for defensive, competitive and speed shooting.
In early stages of firearm training, instructors use all kinds of words to define trigger movement. However, all these terms mean different things. We try to clarify the issue here.
The forward movement of the trigger is just as important as the rearward movement. Here are the pros and cons of slapping the trigger versus riding the reset.
Much has been written about trigger control since the beginning of shooting. But, the majority of writing on the subject is focused primarily on the rearward movement of the trigger, with little-to-no attention given to the forward movement.
Your experience level in shooting is what you would call in the area of intermediate to good. After a stint in the military where you enjoyed going to the range, you decided to continue shooting to maintain your proficiency with firearms.