Hi to everyone!

Ok, I have been playing no limit hold'em for a few months now (play money, and have progressed to freerolls). I love the game and it's got a real hold on me.
To play this game online on a part time basis and to earn a little extra cash would be a dream!!
But I'm a little scepitical of some of the claims I here.
Playing for play money is a joke obviously as it is easy to win. Been entering freerolls typically with 2000 players and to be honest getting into the top 50 is not hard.
Having a high IQ and an extremely exceptional mathematical brain I thought I was pretty good at the game, i.e. playing pretty tight and also generally knowing if a call was a good gamble or not % wise anyway.
Having just read my first book on hold'em (beginners book) I have indeed learnt a lot e.g. starting positions and pot odds (which I can now work out for sure if it is a good gamble or not, rather than guessing, albeit a very good guess!!).
Don't get me wrong I know that there is a hell of a lot more I can learn from the books of Mr Harrington and Mr Brunson etc.
Now, coming back to my mathematical brain I feel that winning money would be extremely hard due to this rake, I believe is typically 5%. Unless of course you are head and heels better than the opposition.
I know some of you are thinking well the only way to find out is for me to play, which I intend to do. I intend to start off on the 2c/4c blinds ring games and take it from there. The standard I imagine would not be great but still decent nevertheless for it to be not that easy to make money???
I intend to get the Harringon, brunson books etc to improve my game further, but would the information in these books be wasted on the opposition of these low limit blinds?
Anyway, anyone with any opinions, comments or advice please feel free to reply.
Looking forward to your replies and good luck!!

Thomas