Other posters have given good answers. I'm going to answer some of your other
items...

[color=blue]
> I guess you can get a more novice question than this but here goes.. do
> you guys produce really good beer? I mean, brew that causes you to proudly
> turn your nose up at anything from a store or pub?[/color]

Yes, absolutely. (I'm not saying you would your first few batches... but it is
possible and with some experience you can match or beat almost anything you can
buy).

[color=blue]
> My two favorite commercial beers are Pilsner Urquell and Newcastle. I like
> Guinness too but it's best in Dublin. If there was hope I could homebrew
> something close to any of these, I would gladly embark on the expense and
> effort to learn it and try try again.[/color]

PU is a lager and those require a bit of care to make (ie., controlled
temperature and longer aging times), however, PU is one of my favorites
and I make a lager that is very close to, and as good as, PU. Newcastle is a
British ale, and those are easier to make than light lagers like PU. It should
be no problem coming close to Newcastle (or making a British ale you might like
even better). Regarding Guinness, you can also make some very excellent
stouts... they are, perhaps, one of the easiest styles to homebrew. Note that
they may not be exactly like Guinness, but they'll be excellent. (Guinness
actually comes in several different versions and some are easier to duplicate
than others).
[color=blue]
> I have this assumption that homebrew would taste much like the microbrews
> we have in the States, at best. Typically I don't like them due to
> sweetness and aftertaste.[/color]

As another post said, YOU control the sweetness and (probably) "aftertaste."

Bottom line, you can get an equipment kit and first batch ingredients
for around $100. In a few weeks you'll have an idea of what you can do
homebrewing and how easy it is! If you try it, be SURE that your liquid
extract ingredients are fresh. I'd start with a stout, then the British ale.
Do a few batchs of those for experience. Later on, you can try the lager (ask
back here for specific help with lagers when you are ready to make them).

Derric