" I'd also like to know where you all think someone in my position should best begin "
Well what is your position?? 
If you just mean new, as others said look and search here, about anything you need to know you can find.
If you mean like what you should first try, look at your surroundings. Do you seem to have good winds? Nice steady breeze, leaves rattling, trees bending, do you need an anchor to walk to your car? Might let you know about wind conditions
Are you in the deep woods or big city or somewhere in between?
Many ways to begin and play.
You might want to try the DC motor and small cheap easy blades, they work.
Might want to jump into small AC motor Conversions, small motors, nice easy blades, cheap, easy, makes decent power.
I used Zubbly type blades on the aboves and they worked well for me. You can search for them here, how to cut and build. Also Jerry blades have been working very well on many projects of mine, seach here where to buy if you need them.
Perhaps you want to jump into the medium AC motor conversions or smaller Dual rotor gennies, a little more costly, more power, more work, well worth it.
Big AC motor conversion or Big dual rotor you may want to try smaller first to learn, lots of power and lots of info here.
Welcome and have fun.
When you have an idea of what you want to do, you can post info about what you wish to try and local winds etc.. lots of help and suggestions abound around here.
I know alot of times we just want to DO SOMETHING but not sure what, I am that way alot, but to get decent help and advice we have to at least have a basic idea of what we can do. Like me, I can do anything where I am, some people got the codes and zoning, etc.. breathing down their backs and can do little but wish..
