Yeah, there is a really harsh learning curve to it, no doubt. It really takes a lot of patience to get into, and starting out is not at all simple in the least.
Skill training is done in real time (some skills actually take 2 months to train to max!) and skill training is everything, you need to train skills in order to get into a ship, in order to fit modules onto a ship, and in order to use them properly. The cool thing about the skill training though, is that you can queue up skills and they will train whilst you're logged off.
Feel free to hit me up ingame if any of you start playing, my ingame chr name is the same as this forum, dxrom.
Also here is a good website to check out if you really do get interested,
http://eve.battleclinic.com/Usually when I am online, I am far FAR away from anywhere newer members can get to, however you can convo me and I can try to explain things to you the best that I can, and help in any way that I can. :>