Getting that stuff right is important, but $180? Whew. I think I would have experimented on my own for awhile. Though I probably rode my old Motobecane a thousand miles before it occurred to me to slide the seat forward half an inch. Made a huge difference.
Personally, what I wish I'd believed after an experienced friend DID tell me is that a newb can waste a lot of money trying to buy himself faster. I remember one time buying a titanium seatpost bolt for $13 instead of a steel one for $3. A lot of what we call upgrades won't make a difference you can notice. It's fine to put on better components when the old ones wear out, but if you swap all your mid-range Shimano parts for top o' the line, you won't notice much. Just ride the bike.