Greetings from Mobile! there was just a player from P'cola asking similar questions. I told him to save his money and go to the Southern Fried Gameroom Expo in Atlanta next year, probably June. You'll get to play a lot of different stuff and find something you can inspect and ask others about. Lots of good people and games there.
Eventually when I get my pins back in order I'll have a pin party for the locals. EVENTUALLY.