It also allow you to access webinar archieves. 

We can maybe work together on future deals as well, whereas you can access costs of rehabs on site from deals I want to make offers on.

These would be 30 year fixed loans so no rate/term restructure after a 5 year window.These are the two most common forms of loans for investment properties that you will have access to.

I know how it gains you access to the MLS, networking opportunities, increase legitimacy, and save money on commissions (when I do a fix and flip).

I am looking at a deal in Gwinnett County, I am having difficulty finding comps to access the ARV.  

Crowdfunding really may be saturating the market with lots of access to capital for so many investors (experienced and inexperienced) that things may simply be too hot to find good deals for a while.  

Or do I just do what I need to do to keep the job and focus more of my effort into REI and educating myself on real estate, including taking advantage of the business classes I have access to here?

@John McAuleyDmitriy is correct, there is no means for your retirement plan to be a lender on a property that you own personally.With a self-directed IRA or 401k, it is not you investing in real estate with access to that tax-sheltered retirement savings, but rather the plan investing in real estate.  

Public official such as court clerks are there to serve the public with archive access to specific case files or, in some cases, demographic and health statistical metrics.

It'll give you direct access to the MLS which will be invaluable for finding deals or if not, running your own comps.