Learning curves - Free Beer!

[casil403]

Lol...I was wondeing how many of you I would hook with that title.....

But seriously.....
I'm curious to know what the learning curve was/is like for both the more experienced and new photographers in here. I am finding it to be a bit steep. I am having an issue remembering how aperture works and it's relation to shutter speed iso and the like and let's not even talk about metering, exposure compensation flash etc.!
No matter what I read, how much I practice, I still have trouble getting it all in my head so that it works right....and I get a bit frustrated at times....
Also, how many pictures do the more experienced photographers take to find that awesome shot...does it come naturally or do you really have to work at it?

I see some of the awesome photos on this site and I wonder if I will ever get even remotely close to that kind of capability!
I guess I'm having some confidence issues because I really love doing this and I want to do understand what I'm doing but I just kind of feel like right now it's more about luck than skill.

I also have to add that I took an into to digital photography course at SAIT last year (helped a little) and I would take another Digital SLR course, but they are full right up until September.
Thanks for your input on this and any advice you have....