>While I tried to read the Help in some detail, I couldn't even come up with the answer for "How do I create a Label field?" It told me about the Label form (control?) icon, but that was about all I could find.

'Label' is a VFP term. In HTML, it's just page text.

>Anyway, though I found it very counter-intuitive, I eventually had 4 labelled text boxes on the form. They looked reasonable in "Normal" view mode. When I checked the "Preview" mode I was shocked. Font sizes were different, a couple of lines 'wrapped' where they had been singletons before, things were not at all placed where they should have been.

Welcome to the delightful world of HTML.

>My biggest concern was positioning things. I found an "absolute positioning" feature and used it for all visible parts on the page. Checking Preview, things were closer but still significantly off.

Absolute Positioning is not a feature of FP, it's a part of Cascading Style Sheets. Be aware that older browsers don't recognize 'positioned' elements.

>What are the secrets to working successfully with this product???? (There has to be some or no one could rate this as being even adequate).

To be honest, no one that has to work with any type of script (ASP, WWWC, etc) does consider it adequate. As a matter of fact, most web developers consider it extremely substandard. That's not to say it doesn't have its uses- it holds the hand of the author much more than other design tools, and comes with lots of templates and the like that can help a total newbie get a page put together in no time. But if you want hit a brick wall going 60 mph, just add some code to a page and edit it with Front Page.

FWIW, I use Allaire's HomeSite, and won't touch FP with a 10' pole.