you can do similar stuff with the vector shape tool in PS, though, and that’s a little easier. Really the only thing I use illustrator for is livetracing things. the people who do whole illustrations in it blow my mind.

Yeah, I don’t have anything specific I want to do with it, just all the jobs I keep seeing offered for people even a little bit art-inclined all want you to have lots of experience with Illustrator, so I’m trying to force it even though it seems to operate completely contrary to my brain.