Welcome to the forums! You've got off to a good start with the dream journal and reality checks, and the recall will get better as you practice.

As for the questions, yes, recall is very important but it doesn't mean you can't do other things while you are working on dream recall. You could try a WBTB and still keep your recall up. Just make sure you also write any dreams you remember when you wake up both times.

No, don't stop doing reality checks, but don't go overboard with them either. Several throughout the day is fine and you really want to get in the habit of doing it whenever anything even a little out of the ordinary happens, such as you see someone you haven't for a while or somebody comes home at a different time (not like 10 minutes or anything but like a few hours)

This can happen as it has happened to me once, but you generally do remember them since you are technically "conscious." I, personally, always wake up right after a LD and just write down some quick notes if i have to get ready for the day or just hop on here.

SP is scary for the first couple of times but you get used ot it. I've experienced it about 4 times and after the 2nd time it isn't bad. In fact, you come to look forward to it since it means you are likely to fall asleep.

Personally, I use DILD/MILD and DEILD. DEILDs seem to be very easy for a lot of people and if you get good at them, you can even chain them together to get hour long dreams, in total. Some people like WILD but it just doesn't seem to be right for me, btu everyone has their own preferences. Find the one that workes best for you!

Don't worry about sounding like a "n00b." We were all new at one time and people here are happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck on getting lucid!