You can get away without listening to the lectures and just read the books without any problems.  99% of what they are saying is straight from the book.  That being said, I am the opposite to you.  I learn by listening and doing problems.  I did not read the books at all after the first section.  I thought that the lectures and the problems were enough. 

I would say that you could also probably get away with just doing problems (MC and simulations) if you wanted as long as you could deal with the low scores the first time around and really studied the solution for every answer.

I think they help me tremendously.  I usually read in the morning and listen to the lectures in the afternoon, to clarify the concepts.  I learn better by listeing as well.