Note that the OP also mentions rows in the segment you quoted. Rows are available to all skill levels, and are an effective way to build strength to eventually

Note that the OP also mentions rows in the segment you quoted. Rows are available to all skill levels, and are an effective way to build strength to eventually do pull-ups. I was able to start doing pull-ups after a few months of doing bent over rows with a $25 set of resistance bands. It is very difficult to figure all of the details out, because there is so much money to be made by convincing people to buy into gimmicks. The OP has the right general ideas, though.