Hi,
I hope the purpose of this thread is to open a discussion and not assert what one thinks to be true.
From my over a decade of practising Astrology seriously and two decades of studying it (to date), I can share that placements of planets in signs is extremely important. A sign gives a planet either strength (through dignity or exaltation) or negates that (through detriment or fall). The stronger the placement of a planet in a sign, the more beneficial that planet is for the native. Where does such a planet show its benefit - in the matters of the house it rules, firstly and then also in the house it it placed in. For instance, my Venus is exalted and rules my 10th house - my career has been a feather in my cap position wise and through always being employed. My Mars is exalted, too and rules my parental/family house and also my 9th house. I did quite a bit of my higher education based on scholarships of merit as well as am very well-travelled. Touch wood (yes, I am somewhat superstitious). My Moon is in its detriment and rules my 12th house and I have often suffered from insomnia, waking up many times in the middle of the night, and have had my fair share of people working against me undercover - mostly women (Moon after all).
What strong planets (through their sign placements) also help in is mitigating the negative effects of poorly placed planets via aspects. So, if a strong Venus is conjunct or sextile a fallen Mars, it will 'lift' that Mars up somewhat and somewhat lessen its harmful aspects. For instance, it could be that the native often has/faces confrontations with or push-backs from others at their workplace. However, due to the presence of a dignified Venus (harmony), such confrontations or disputes may end amicably or less offensively.
House placements of planets is also very important. For instance, that same strong Venus, if placed in the 10th house, will energise the matters of that house through its positive energies, so in a beneficial way. Let us say the 10th house is in Taurus and so is that Venus in Taurus and in the 10th house - that could mean a strong career, which is also lucrative and satisfying (all Venus). If Mars is in the 10th house in Taurus, then that Mars is in its detriment and can actually hinder (due to obstacles) the success that could have the matters of the 10th house could have otherwise enjoyed, due to its conj. to Venus. So, that conjunction plays out in the 10th house, again underlining the importance of the placement of the planets in the houses.
Anybody on AW, in particular reading this thread, I would strongly urge you to not leave out any of the three things: sign placement, house placement of planets and aspects between them. Your interpretation else would be incomplete and also not completely correct.
I do very much agree though that aspects between two generational planets (Ura, Nep, Plu) are almost useless in a natal chart study. Also, one of the reasons (expressing my own opinion here) I don't ascribe to using generational planets as sign rulers.