Holy jeebus. I've been commuting daily for nearly two years, and regularly (if not daily) for the past 10 years, and reading all this stuff is making my head explode. I can't imagine what I'd think if I were new to the idea of commuting by bicycle.

With regards to any of the advice here, there are many common sense things to think about when riding a bike in traffic that people in cars never consider. That you're asking the questions means that you're headed in the right direction.