Are you really in a hurry to get GeoW2 at launch? Or will you also have a hard time playing that game as well? My advice if to satisfy your needs of having the game on launch, just buy the game and play GeoW1 then 2 when you seriously find time to squeeze in. No need to rush, a great game should never be rushed to finish.

If you play the game on Coop you can shave off 30-40%

i'm in the same boat as you, but i'm not going to get gears 1.

most of the reviews indicate that the story is just a slap on for the gameplay anyway so i'm sure i can pick up without any problem (and there's usually a half page synopsis in the manual).

also, unlike you, i buy my games so it's mostly the lasting appeal that will get me to pick this title up. ie it's the online multiplayer that i'm looking most forward to.

Try and pass through Gears of War on Insane mode. I barely got through Hard Core mode. RAAm the end boss of Gears of War is really hard to beat. But there are glitches in the game to kill him easily. Block glitch allows you to kill RAAM in seconds.

I do buy the games that have good multiplayer ie. COD4 its those play and put down games that I don't buy.

Gears one is starting to sound like a keeper though.  I might pick it up after 2 comes out and they drop the price then.  I might also have to talk a friend or 2 into getting it to play through it with me co-op.

UPDATE:

Well with out the LB button you will get stuck on GoW2. I can't get past like Act 1. Nore can I train the Rook.

The 2 games are quite different experiences. definately play through the first then 2nd. first one is wow in an enclosed environment. 2nd is how the hell can a game look like this and play so smoothly with som many more enemies on screen.

Do both.

Get them both and play through both, gears1 is awsome, the story is not much but the game is excellent while gears2 is bigger with more enemies on the screen. Gears1 multiplayer is better than Gears2 in my opinion but Horde in Gears2 is amazing, both are excellent games.

Get both. I just finished Gears 2, and both games can exist side by side. They are very different. There are things like lighting your path to avoid the krill, and riding in mine carts that just aren't in GeoW 2. They're like Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back. Sure, you can enjoy one, but you really should experience them both. Gears 1 is a more intimate game. Gears 2 is an EPIC game. Buy Gears 1 and finish it. Then, play Gears 2. You are in for a hell of a time.

If you don't play(beat) 1, you can't be Raam in multiplayer! That's gotta be worth the price of admission.