1. Ok so when is it appropriate/useful to use the power of embedded php (in html) instead of templates? Just for learning the first couple of hello worlds? In my experience it becomes a mess to manage when you start having more than one commiter and more than a couple of lines of code.

2. You don't have to be a command line expert to start using it. All the books at http://learncodethehardway.org/ show that command line can be integrated in the language learning process seamlessly. No reason to be terrified of it, on the contrary, new coders should embrace it as soon as possible.