Thanks for your input man. I don't mean to come crashing into this place all jaded from the outset. It's just that at first I was like oh great, someone else is just getting started and maybe I can learn along with them, but then no, it's too difficult and you'll blow up your engine, your gearbox and your mum's toaster.
Why can't you (the forum as a whole) simply point to a getting started guide and say look, here are the risks, here are the payoffs, here's what you'll need and what it will cost. Once you understand all that and are ready to continue, come back to us when you come up against a specific issue you are struggling with. (?)
Maybe that's already in place and i've overlooked it? I already asked @Roland@pcmtec for a getting started guide (on youtube) and he ghosted me after that. I get that videos are not the main focus around here at the moment, but some more effort on that front would go a very long way towards welcoming newcomers to the scene.