like tone said it can be a bit over whelming in shear size and amount, but the basics are pretty easy. for a general over view in a humors tone see http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/2680-Minecraft
on server news front world edit has been updated to current build still buggy but better.
edit .... also it can be quite a time sink, thankfully its only one payment unless you get so into it you build/host your own server in a never ending series of upgrades
also for a vote multiple nether's with one per world or just one nether..
and does any one use cenotaph outside of me, i like the plugin but we may cut it if im the only one that does
come play minecraft @ mcg.hansrotech.com
minecraft name: hansrotec
XBL name: Goddog