Gentlemen,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I feel like I have much more distance to cover going forward in my knowledge and experience than I do looking back.
For those looking for master's degree level learning, I found mine by contracting with professional pilot service companies (they are out there) who will fly your airplane for you (thereby avoiding the 135 rap). It works if you are just a 'share-holder' in an Ourplane or AirShares Elite, and it works if you own your own airplane. It does not work if the pilot company is also a flight school / fbo and they supply the airplane and the pilot.
I opted for pilots with 2,000+ hours and prefer 3,000. I am finding out that even 1,000 hours is a long, long, long, long time in an airplane. I'm also finding out that it how one spends those hours. I could dose and listen to the XM Comedy channel on every 3 hour flight I take...but I choose to try to learn every nuance.
I learned that all pilots have their strengths and weaknesses. The more hard-imc experience, the better the pilot in my opinion. You've got to be like the IceMan in dark clouds and at night around mountains with 100% confidence and 100% correct task execution. That only comes from forgetting to hit the VLOC button on the Garmin 100 times in much-higher minimums, and a hundred other stupid mistakes.
On the flip side, they all did something stupid. Busted altitudes seemed to be the most prevelant mistake. It sure is easy to do, and it's about the quickest thing to get your ticket in trouble. That helpled me to learn to never bust altitudes...knock on wood...I have yet to do it (really bad anyway...sigh...)
I flew with these guys on over 100 trips. I sure did learn IFR procedures -- but also learned to say, "I gotem on TCAS" which this forum helped to correct
I made friends with every freight dog I met in every FBO -- and especially here in Atlanta. I kept in touch with some really, really great pilots who can literally paint the needles on the guages on anything less than severe turbulence. I bought many lunches and dinners, and picked many brains.
The bottom line that I learned from those brains is that you always go, you might just have to wait until the thunderstoms or freezing rain moves away from the airport. But you eventually always go. And you always have outs. And you always land. Just maybe not where you intended.
One of the guys I kept in touch with is now left seat in a Cheyenne. I asked him if I can fly right seat with him and he said YES! The only drawback is that I have to be Commercial to do it. So, now I'm trying to figure out how, when, and where to get a CMEL-IA...I don't want to abuse my bird; I'm not really comfortable flying a trainer after I've learned what it takes to maintain a twin...but I'll figure something out.
The good news is I'll be able to fly as a professional, get paid $175 per flight, and completely and totally go on my schedule...because he flies that airplane for 4 owners...only 2 of which require a co-pilot...and he has a long list of people who get to go right seat. Since I was a very good customer, I get first pick!!
Now when that starts...I'll be getting some GOOD experience!!!