Then after a year or more of this... seek out and befriend an experienced real estate investor, bring them as much value as I could, get into their world, learn as much from them as possible, partner on some deals, hustle, probably fail, pick myself up, probably fail again, pick myself back up again, continue learning, continue hustling, continue to slowly succeed until I master the process and live an absolutely epic life.

There are a multitude of ways to make money in the RE world, I would focus on picking one based on your skillset!

Its no more than their fairly transparent short term ploy to leverage one group against another until all are so weak individually that where they couldn't be beaten as a group, they will be relatively easy pickings individually. 

Well the reference room in Philadelphia never picks up the phone or responds to voicemail but via leveraging the tip of a record existing in 1969 was indeed helpful.

I am just trying to pick your brain.

Right now I am researching outside my local market to pick up some more multi families that will both cash flow and appreciate.

Google for title companies in your area, on Monday (or better yet Tuesday since Monday is a holiday for some), pick up the phone and dial every single one of them

Since you like reading, you might pick up Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor by Amanda Han (she's been featured on the BP podcast a few times).

I will definitely pick it up and thanks for the recommendation. 

You can pick these properties up before the actual auction directly from the owners.If you get to the actual "Auction," normally Court House Steps, then you best be very prepared.