What should I be expecting as a new agent?

[Jerome Harrod II]

So here is what I gathered from the forum on being a new agent:

1. MLS access isn't immediate, so I can't tap expired listings for leads day 1
2. There are many kinds of Brokerages to be with, none of which supply leads, and I have to pay them fees outside commissions. (wish I knew more about the kinds of brokerages out there and what agent would fit best with what brokerage)
3. Business is not ran much different than being an investor in the sense that you do everything yourself.
4. Agents are a dime a dozen with an 80% quitting rate. (Reality hits ya hard)

Am I missing anything here? What else should I be expecting as a new agent?

Bonus question: Can anyone breakdown picking a brokerage as an agent?
Like give a quick Brokerage overview, something along the lines of "Long&Foster is good for this but it sucks in XYZ, so Century21 is excellent for ABC type of agent."

Most people casually say "talk to or interview brokerages and see what they offer" assuming that others know what's good or what to ask or look for.
That's not as helpful as they might think. Anyone care to elaborate or go deeper? Not looking for a spoonfed script, just a more personalized answer from experience.