Michael:
There are plenty of good resources here both in terms of information and people.
The value you get from these resources depends on YOU. How you approach the work (if you work at it at all) and how you approach people.
If there is any criticsm to level at ET members it relates to the lack of work ethic. There are about half a dozen workable systems posted here that work, but you have to take the time to learn how to operate them, and you have to be disciplined.
There are good people here, some who visited for a while and got run off by the hosers, some who used to post and now just lurk because of the blood suckers, and some who figure it is just not worth it to go through all the crap.
Right now if you wanted to, you could go to "Search", find a system that appealed to you and learn to use it. Might change your life for all you know. Right now there are folks on the site who could be great trading partners, but YOU have to decide how to approach them and you have to be a good trading partner yourself. There has to be some give and take, and you have to find people who you have some chemistry with.
Ultimately this world is what we make it.
Steve