Frazzled, by all means, PLEASE do yourself a really big favor and get an instructor. You`re right when you said you observed a certain passion on the part of the flyers you were watching. What you will come to find is that it will most probably be very easy to find someone who will be more than willing to share that passion for RC flying with you as they serve as your instructor. Find a local club and attend a meeting. I guarantee you that you will find members who will enourage you to join them at the field. There are things you will learn from your instructor and others that no sim will teach you ( how to trim a plane in flight, how to tune an engine, what equipment you should use, the list is endless ). Finally, I dare say you will find that the best part of this hobby ( yes, even better than the planes themselves and the flying ) will be the friends you will make. I know it has been for me.