Agreed. Since I am still relatively new (6 months) with SLRs, I am still trying to understand most of the functions. Right now I am using mostly the pre-set program modes. I am also experimenting with A - Mode, Aperture Priority. That seems to work out pretty well.
I have used full Manual one time, and that was a bit overwhelming
. Pretty much none of the pictures turn out at all
.
Anyways, read the manual a few times, try to understand as much as you can. Go out and play around with the settings, then come back and read it again.
Like they said, practice makes perfect
.