Can't tell if you're overall up or down, but if you're playing $5 SNGs with a $24(or less) bankroll, you're playing with scared money and it's probably affecting your play whether you realize it or not. To play $5 SNG you need a more substantial BR.

If you're considering money you have already cashed out of Party to be part of your bankroll, then you shouldn't need to play ring games for the purpose of making enough to play SNGs(unless you wanted to play them anyway). If you have lose a little and go down to $4, go ahead and reload and play as normal. It's all the same money whether it's at Party or Neteller or wherever.

As for concentrating, I still like to play close attention to the games and not get too distracted by TV or surfing or whatever. There's usually enough going on to keep my attention, and it's good practice to try to read other players even if you're not involved in the hand. Take notes. I've been playing at Party $5-$50 SNGs for about a year and have not notice an appreciable difference in the number of solid players. Seems about the same to me.