I typically play by ear, but can find the right notes if necessary (or bend the crap out of the string until it sounds like I want it). But I'm not really sure why you'd really need to know the notes on the fretboard unless you were writing a song, even then you'd have time to sit down and think it out. But, seeing as how I'm still learning all of this, I'm going to ask what the point of it is. Right now. Why should I learn the notes of the fretboard and how exactly will it help me?