Well, this is my 2 cents for whatever you may think it is worth...

Most do not do the research (as in reading the books/forums) before playing the game although many will play for 'play' money before making their first cash deposit and making the switch to 'real' money. I personally found the 'play' money games to be very unlike real money NLHE until you get to the higher money tables. The lower limit 'play' tables are full of people that know they can receive $1000 again as soon as they bust on a garbage hand that they went all in with. Once you start playing at the higher 'play' stakes, the players generally worked hard to get to that level and play more legitimate hands to keep their bankroll growing.

That being said, I think you have done what you can to be in a favourable position to make your first deposit. I think that what you may want to do is start @ PokerStars with their .01/.02 NL games. From there once you are making a little scratch, move up in levels. What can I say... I had to learn in the school of hard knocks and I paid the price. It cost me a few hundred dollars and a few thousand hands before I started to get my game. I built up a decent BR at one point and lost it all in a matter of hours one day 'cause I did not know when to stop once the bad day and tilting began.

Experience is what gets you the final table... Experience is what tells you to hold em or fold em...

I would break it down as follows and people will disagree I am sure but you might as well hear my opinion...

50% Skill - 40% Luck - 10% Balls to call - This is what wins... If you have all the skill and some of the balls you can go far even without luck but unless you are among the poker elites you need a degree of luck......