Ok, this is a good question, and of course the answer will be the Roy Cooke classic . . . . It depends.
The issue here, is: do people care about the money involved?
Sometimes, even playing something like 30-60 cannot give you good experience, as often the players here:
Do'nt give a shift about the stakes involved.
And, other times, the .25-.50 players, are very concerned about their chips, and take it QUITE seriously.
Really, the limit of the game, is NOT the indicator as to how the game is played.
THIS IS SOMETHING, THAT ONLY THE GENIUS OF A.T.E. HAS MENTIONED THIS.
ATE laughs his head off, at the whole notion of their being a seperate book for "low" limit, another for "middle" limit.
ACTUALLY, I don't laugh
I GET PLUCKIN' MAD!!!
those authors . . . ARE RIPPING people off! As I so brilliantly said, the type of game is based on the regard for the chips involved, OR LACK THEREOF.
So, yes you can gain useful experience, in the "micro" games
IF THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE STAKES SERIOUSLY.
You made a big mistake there, losing it all in one day. We all have done that, learn from it and move on.
ATE suggests that you NEVER lose more than one tenth of your total bankroll, on any given day, and no more than one TWENTIETH, in any given game.
This is when said bankroll, is a substantial amount, such as your eight hundred.
If you can afford to take, say 100 a week, out of your income, and have a fresh "bankroll" the next week, you can afford to take more chances.