I had Ancestry before so I am familiar with the site. I have been waiting on a free trail or a special to come up so I can rejoin for a shot period of time. I use these 'spurts" to update family info and to gather more info. Lost all my CSRs -- somehow the CD I stored them on became corrupted, -- can't access it anymore. Will use a external harddrive next time.
Like you I have trouble with Family Search, so much I just gave up trying to use it. Yes George Martin provides some good info, but nothing like having the copies of originals themselves.