Cramming and studying are different. Sure many people use cramming in place of studying for tests and whatnot. But proper studying involves working on understanding via exercise and usage. And doing so more often than in just a pre-test cramming session.
To me, repetition implies exercise and usage, whereas studying for a test is a cram session before moving on to something else.
The worst way to study is indeed not a very good way to study, you are correct.
And you forget about it a few days later at most.
Cramming and studying are different. Sure many people use cramming in place of studying for tests and whatnot. But proper studying involves working on understanding via exercise and usage. And doing so more often than in just a pre-test cramming session.