> "Learnings" is at best a pointless affectation

No, at best it's a deliberately wonky usage for comic effect [1], like "Internets". It's quite possible the author is being gamesome. [2]

[1] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borat:_Cultural_Learnings_...

[2] http://youtu.be/Wc1pxO_-5S8?t=6m43s