anyone out there have experience in mathematica and the learning curve involved? i've gazed wistfully at it for years but never thought it applied to me but thi

anyone out there have experience in mathematica and the learning curve involved? i've gazed wistfully at it for years but never thought it applied to me but this v6 edition with it's buttons and web tie-ins is making me think it might worth a 1000 hours (i'm interested in analysis/display not programming)