Experience, plain and simple. :)
I'm very much like you: hands-on, love working with my hands, into woodworking, blacksmithing, now bladesmithing, had been sharpening my knives, etc., for as long as I could remember, etc., and so on... So I figured "no problem - I've got this!" and then proceeded to put up with months of miserable experience with sub-par edges.
The problem *for me* was that I didn't have any conception of what a truly shave-ready blade was like. So in effect with my own honing efforts, I was trying to hit a target I couldn't see. It wasn't until I dinged the edge on a faucet and sent it out to be repaired and honed by a pro that I really understood what the edge should be like. After that, I knew what I was trying to achieve, and my own honing improved no end.
So for me personally, I think from my own experience that having a professionally-honed blade early on can be really helpful. But at the same time I absolutely believe anyone with the inclination to do so should learn to hone his/her own razors. Not only because I just like doing things myself, but because it can become another enjoyable part of the process.
So please don't think we're trying to discourage you learning to hone. By all means do so, and enjoy the ride. But consider having it done by an experienced honer early on as it may help. And as Bob said, whatever you decide to do: best of luck with it! And when you have questions, ask away. :tu