Da, when i learned nefesh hachaim, it was the same year i learned tanya. I’m very glad i did it that way.
I came to a conclusion that some of the nefesh hachaims criticisms were from what the hamon am among chasidim would say and do, especially the idea that chasidus championed the idea of thinking about Hashem constantly while learning and that learning was to now play second fiddle.
I say this because in the early seforim which contain clear instructions to their chasidim, including chiefly the tanya(which is unique in its instructional clarity, especially in the second half of the sefer) neither of the above two things are advocated for. The baal hatanya, of course being one of the gedolei achronim in halacha(quoted constantly in the mishnah berurah) spoke frequently about the greatness of learning Torah and said that one is obligated to learn and know everything.
See shu”a harav’s hilchos talmud Torah, widely considered to be the “ba’al shmaatsa” of the sugya, even in litvishe circles. See also tanya perek 5 and 25 to see how he viewed learning.