The first hour of any new skill feels like paying and getting nothing back. That’s the down payment, not a scam.

Beginning anything involves a stretch where effort produces no visible return, and that stretch is not a sign you lack aptitude. Your brain is building rough scaffolding that later work will hang on, and scaffolding does not look like progress. Most people quit here, not because it is hard but because it feels like nothing is happening.

Decide up front how many hours you will put in before judging whether this is for you. Five, ten, whatever seems fair. Do not evaluate during the down payment, because the information is not available yet.