JB123: Agreed! Blender definitely has the functionality I'm looking for all in one place. There's a nice chapter on shape keys in the Blender book I have, too, so I might actually be able to do some interesting things without pulling out my hair in bunches. On the other hand, I'm now thinking maybe I should wait for 2.5 before I start with the serious Blendering. It looks like there will be some radical spring cleaning done on the interface, and the result might be much more attractive and less frustrating for the likes of me.

-- I'm not mad at you, just Westphalian.