Then, why are you?
Not opinions, man. Years of actual, first-hand experience. How has that not sunken in for you yet?
Yes. All you have provided is... are you ready for it? One dude's personal testimonial. Not even your own.
See man, some in this thread have already been down the road you're heading down for the first time many, many times, and have already done all the learning and researching you're yapping about.
Now, I do agree about needing a beer. There, we agree on something.
http://www.cslacker.com/images/file/mediums/beer_godess.jpg