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We address the efficiency of theoretical tools used in the development and optimization of mode-locked fiber lasers. Our discussion is based on the practical case of modeling the dynamics of a dispersion-managed fiber laser. One conventional approach uses discrete propagation equations, followed by the analysis of the numerical results through a collective coordinate projection. We compare the latter with our dynamical collective coordinate approach (DCCA), which combines both modeling and analysis in a compact form. We show that for single pulse dynamics, the DCCA allows a much quicker solution mapping in the space of cavity parameters than the conventional approach, along with a good accuracy. We also discuss the weaknesses of the DCCA, in particular when multiple pulsing bifurcations occur.