Sorry. If I seem obsessed about any particular piece of this puzzle, it's because I'm obsessed with the puzzle as a whole.
I'm not too stuck on rakeback, since I know I'm an absolute beginner, looking to grind micros. What I've read makes it seem that rakeback is something you need to establish when you first create an account, so take the long view and get a good rate.
I'm more concerned about finding the best way to choose a site to make my first deposit. Then: What I can do to maximize my learning curve?

P.S. My comment about how I take better notes than most. lol. The HEM2 notes are automatic and make mine look like chicken scratch.