Noob questions - coder cost, vB.org, and other questions

[Abomination]

Stauts

• If my project/forum is a 'go' it will be using vBulletin
• Trying to figure out the major parts of putting up a forum - site hosting, vBullletin basics before buying to be sure desired goals are feasible. Based on reading this section of vBulletin.org my goals are quite simple.
• I really don't want to set things up myself. I know the cost of the license is, phone support, and for vBulletin.com to install it but there seems to be some missing parts such as backup, restore, adding approved modifications, stuff like that.

The forum might make a few $ but not much so I don't have bucket loads of $ to put into this project (it at least needs to pay for itself).

1 - How can I get a clue if this project is feasible?
If the project is cost prohibitive then it would be good to know that now before I buy vBulletin in the first place.

Somewhere "Paid Requests section" was referenced in a thread. In the help section of this site it lists a "Premium Modifications" section, are they the same?

2 - Are there threads there that would be visible if I purchased a license? Right now there are no threads in there from my computer.

I'm really really stuck. I know talented people should be paid well, but some of this stuff might take a pro 1-2 hours which would be great. Doing it myself it could take months and might still get it wrong.

3 - I keep seeing references to "BB"code, is that Bulletin Board code? Different from php?