Dope to me means trust but verify.
I start out with a printout from JBM of a specific bullet at an estimated velocity, I always go with zero wind for this as all I'm really concerned with is bullet drop.
Now, after a couple of good shots and possibly a scope adjustment or two to get my POA and POI congruent, I'll, when I get back home, play with JBM velocity input to get my range card matching my POI data. That becomes my new dope for that rifle, that bullet and that load at that range under those atmospheric conditions.
Wind calls are noted on the original sheet as well so I can continue with my education in re wind.
It is easy for me to get all wrapped around my axle over this stuff as I am a long way from what I would call a precision shooter but I try to get every shot in the same hole and I'm getting better at shot calling and mounting the rifle and trigger pulls and all the other fundamentals.
The more I shoot, the more data I acquire and the more variety I can get in my shooting, the better the data becomes.
Dope is an indispensable tool towards improvement. A new page for every range session and going back over the data to see what you have learned is the way to go, IMHO.