Especially for new players. I have utilized the maps extensively and it's really helped my area knowledge. The item lists are good too, but some are out of date. Not unexpected of course, as all of that information was put up by people volunteering their time.

There is a link to qhcf here on the official website, so it's not as if the staff shuns the site. I just don't think they put an emphasis on sending people there when some of the things you find there aren't current. The wiki on the officials isn't much different in that regard, though.