Thanks BC! I've been at ML shooting for some time but not nearly as much or as frequent as many folks out there.
31 years ago, there was little variability for me. I had a T/C Hawken 50 cal percussion and I shot patched roundball and black powder.
After much practice I felt comfortable shooting iron sights in a hunting situation at 75-100 yards.

No Davey Crockett but I learned to shoot and still can with the old "Hawk".

Exactly right on the time it can take. Those of us that have been shooting ML's for some time have certainly logged in a bunch of time fiddling around with what shoots, works and is the most consistent for our individual preferences and rifles.

In my view the changes with the introduction of more competitive manufacturing, technology, inlines, synthetic powders, projectiles and ignitions is what made things both more refined as well as more difficult.
The vastness and diversity of choice is not always more helpful. It can often just makes things more "cluttered". Especially for the person that is an occassional or seasonal only shooter.

The benefit for the new ML'er today is that many of the rifles, products and combinations are developed to a point of consistency and quality that the new shooter can get on "Target" relatively quickly with some suggested load combinations. Then the investment, practice, refinement begins if someone wishes to hone their skills and capabilities.

The internet has also been instrumental on getting folks on the "Target" much faster and taking some of the guesswork from trial and error.

Take this forum for instance. There are a great many folks that have true real experiences that can offer the new ML'er a wonderful repository of information and learning.

I learn new things all the time.