I think the show inadvertently shows that the witch race is, as a whole, as irresponsible and feckless as Sabrina is, training program and witches' licenses nonwithstanding. Based on the way other witches act (Cloud 10, any number of Sabrina's relatives), Hilda and Zelda are something of an oddity in that they deal with mortal problems in mortal ways most of the time.Did they ever explain why Sabrina keeps trying to utilize magic to solve mundane problems? I mean sure the meta reason is we need her to be dumb for the show, but is there an in-show explanation?.So she can but she's going to get in trouble for it. If I recall that episode, she gets in trouble with the Witches' Council for altering the laws of the universe.The Witches Council are all sadistic asses who enjoy watching her suffer.

It's perfectly fine to be dependent on something if it makes your life easier and it's something you'll always have. Just because there's people in the world who aren't fortunate enough to have, say, running water, doesn't mean there's any reason the more fortunate among us need to get used to squatting over holes and using a well. It's easy to think of magic as something special, almost like 'cheating' in a way, but really, what's wrong with it? It's just another tool for solving problems, and it just so happens this one is the easiest solution to a great many problems. And for any problem those life lessons might help her with, wouldn't magic be a much more effective solution? That rule seems to serve no purpose but to encourage learning the solution to a problem that only exists because of that rule. She wouldn't be as likely to learn that lesson, right? But what exactly would be the problem with that? If that rule doesn't exist, then that would mean she could just magic her way out of all her problems. Be careful with your work and actions have consequences might have been Life Lessons there.

One of the few consistent rules of magic on the show is that witches can't magic their way out of Life's Lessons.How come Sabrina can use her powers to change the laws of alchemy and allow base metal to become gold, but couldn't clean soda off her homework?.

Sabrina the teenage witch season 1