I was going to write how bad I was and how PU transformed me, but then I changed my mind. I actually had pretty good skills with women even then. But yeah, I developed a lot thanks to the pickup.
And I can tell you something - you are already a rAFC on my scale
. And what's that about "keeping your goals realistic"? Hah, I bet you will be laughing at this in a year time. 
Just go out and sarge. From what you have written I think you know a lot - in theory. Stop reading that much, get a wing, go out and have fun - in the end that's what PU is.