I agree, organopete, but I still think it is reasonable to show some alternatives. I know the DIBAL reduction of nitriles might not be covered in all introductory classes, but I know for a fact that it is covered in some. Even if it were not covered, certainly other common reactivity of nitriles would be. You could also work out a synthesis where you would hydrolyze the nitrile to the carboxylic acid, reduce with LAH, and oxidize with PCC.
At any rate, I think it is a good exercise for the more advanced members to consider alternative syntheses using all the tools they know while at the same time trying to figure out how to do it with the tools available to a less experienced chemist. I think it helps you to understand the challenges in efficiency in organic synthesis, and it helps you to realize which problems have been solved and which still remain.