[tprime76]

In truth, the biggest knowledge jump you will get is when you unlock your phone and then flash it to a new version. You will be amazed at how quickly so many of the things that you don't undertand all of a sudden make sense. Again, it comes down to whether or not you want to enter into an area where your phone is no longer supportable by your carrier.

I do remember when I was new to this (with my XV6700) and I knew that I just had to make the jump to start "getting it". My only suggestion is to find a copy of the stock ROM for your carrier's flavor of your phone. If you don't like what the ROM does to it, flash back.