On the interface front, I'm now using play money at Full Tilt and it seems easier to follow the action there. On the speed front, I'm selecting tables at or under 60 hands per hour and that seems OK (and will get easier with practice, of course).

You're right that the real lessons will come with real money, but I think I'd better be able to beat the play money games before playing for real, and I'd better be able to beat a micro limit before (and in lieu of) "donating" to experienced players at higher low limits like 3/6. I know that the play is awful at play money tables (such as 90% seeing the flop when I'm seeing 25%...and that's probably too high) but my impression is that the quality of play doesn't get that much higher (such as 50% at the flop) at least through the 1/2 level.

And speaking of that small deposit, I have to figure out how to do that with so many methods cut off...

Oh, and I ignore the chat but I guess it clutters the dealer text.