It doesn't matter how "passive" or "active" you are in completing these activities, they'll be taxed as I indicated in the previous two sentences.Now, the number of hours of active investing DOES apply to your status as a "real estate professional." 

While doing this you need to be actively networking.

Going forward, I don't intend on being an active agent buying & selling homes, so my question is, short of giving up my license, is there any option to not pay all the quarterly board dues & broker office fees, E&O, etc., but keep the license in some "reduced" status, so I can still possibly reap the benefits of the real estate professional status for real estate investing.

Etc.I think your best bet is to get a grasp on exactly what this property is costing you so you can decide how to best move forward. 

I want to be an active part of the boots on the ground team until I know that I am working with the right people.

You could always have someone else co sign but that has its own issues.Your best bet is to do great in school, minimize student debt, and work an internship or two within your field while in school.

Terminal fed funds is between 2.25 and 2.50 according to those who bet on that for a living.

I’m a basic meme bet and I have a feeling that I may be clicking links that only pro members can see.

And when you are ready to outsource your mailings, the only way you'll be able to make an honest apples-to-apples comparison is to know what your actual costs are to fold, stuff, label, stamp and mail each piece.Because I bet you're "paying" way more than you realize to do it yourself.For example, I've used Click2Mail's email-to-mail service to mail 8.5x11 letters in a 6x9 envelope with first-class postage, one at a time, for 84 cents each.

So I would suggest getting in touch with as many active MUF brokers that you can connect with just so you get the off market properties.