So is the approach here suggesting to lay everything out at once and so the user can feel what the interface 'affords' him before he clicks anything, or should an interface be broken down into very simple steps that the user can only see one at a time?

I almost always prefer the 'jet pilot' approach of having everything laid out in front of me, for example, being able to see an entire form before I decide whether to use it. BUT it seems that many usability experts suggest dragging users through one step at a time?

How to decide? Will there be an equal number of people that hate my choice either way?