>It looks more and more like I need to add .NET to my list of programming tools. For those of you who have already done this or are in the process, what would you do differently and what is your advice for someone who is just starting?

First piece of advice, don't listen to the naysayers in this forum.
Second, go to www.commongroundsolutions.com and look at the .net resources he has listed. He has sample code and links to tons of websites with good information.
Thirdly, get Kevin McNeish's book ".Net for VFP Programmers". Its excellent converage of the change to mindset and thinking necessary to move to .Net.

I'm sure there a many others, but this will get you started.