The first benefit that the zone system (or densitometry, or BTZS, or whatever) will teach you is what happens at different exposure levels. If you shoot an object at the metered exposure, what will the image look like? At one stop less, two stops, four stops, what happens? Four stops over? You can do this test with a single roll of film, colour or B&W, slide or negative.(posted 9126 days ago)With that knowledge, you will know what subject brightness range you can cope with. You will also know the correct EI for your methods. It is worth doing this, even if you take it no further.
The next step, if you wish to persue it, is control. You can vary the film contrast, and hence the subject brightness range that you can comfortably shoot. You might do this by varying development, or choosing a different film.
With 5x4, I can readily develop each sheet according to the exact needs.
With 35mm, I personally would not unload/reload films. It really is asking for trouble. I do sometimes carry two bodies, with identical films, knowing in advance that I will develop one for low-contrast subjects, the other for high. Yes, this is a compromise. I have quite a few 35mm bodies, but very rarely carry more than two.
With multigrade papers, is B&W contrast control by varying development worthwhile? Yes. Using a higher grade paper gives me inferior results (more grain) than increasing film development time.