I use a notebook and pen too, I have a locker full of them with notebooks going back to 2006. I use them to order my thoughts and sparkle creativity. But those books does not fit my personal knowlegde management requirements. Like making my notes searchable for later use and edit them with new insights.

I don't agree they are a distraction, these tools are making me way more productive with processing data => information => knowledge => wisdom (saved in my head). It's really a second brain because I know my brains are not build to memorize everything.