Yeah I know what you mean about low polys.  I've been redoing a few of my project meshes to increase the poly count because I was going too low poly.  Course then I get an idea for how to simplify the mesh and I end up reducing the total again.

Bevel is useful for certain things, I haven't used it very much.  I use Spin constantly (lathing).  Arrays on a path with a curve modifier are also a lot of fun.  I've made enough chain to fill a dungeon just goofing around  LOL  Its also how I made the water spouts for my fountain.  Cylinder scaled down, Array modifier on a NURBS path, add a curve modifier, then add a Distortion modifier using a cloud noise.  Instant water stream.  Easy to move for morphs too (just apply the array first cause if you fit to curve it'll add or remove verts when you move the path).  You could use something similar to make wires, mechanical tentacles, etc.

An yeah, once you get the basics down Blender gets pretty easy to use.  I laughed at myself yesterday, I was using GIMP and kept trying to use Blender shortcuts to move and scale the image!