and because that way you're more focused on just one side at a time, i think personally that's easier tbh.
also as for COLL "guide":
way i learned recognition was from JMBaum site:
http://jmbaum.110mb.com/coll.htm. read at least the description to understand the recognition for that. then you can use the algs on his site, or you can go to kungfoomanchu and they have a printable sheet you can use.
also good is the place mdipalma linked at boca, although boca is liable to random downtimes (infrequent though) so if you wanna use it, just make sure you pick out algs and have them in a document or something just in case.
boca is also good if you are thinking of ZBLL/ZZLL because they also have a pretty good database of algorithms, and i like the images they use for the cases, kinda like more "3-d" view more than in speedsolving which is like from the top.
but really as UVA is a proof, you don't really "need" COLL or even ZZLL because OCLL+PLL is just as fast