I don't mind learning..I'm just wondering out loud.I think that I want to use it but I need to know WHEN as well as how to use it because the render times on my Athlon 64 are just too silly to contemplate in some pictures.Also do I want to use IBL to make one particular object on a scene look better at the expense of other objects in the scene?

The point that was made about using exterior HDRI's for exterior scenes is a good one..Maybe as we go through the steep incline of this learning curve some folk will point out the common sense way of using this new choice in Byrce so that we all produce better work. :)