This is very reassuring -- I figured it was probably just that I'm dense or something.

I bought the SAMS "Teach Yourself Premiere in 24 Hours" book today, and am actually finding it very helpful. The author starts from the assumption that his readers have already leapt in and begun messing about, and he does a good job of walking one through how to do various things, without getting too complicated. Plus, the illustrations are very good.