MarkDM, keep in mind that everyone has a story to share. Some share predominantly the negatives, do not let that completely derail your potential journey before you even start. I remember when my wife was expecting our first child, all the experienced moms out there shared their painful delivery stories to the point she was scared to death. In the end, things weren't as bad as she imagined and we went on to have another child a few years later. She vowed never to share the grisly details of birth to first time moms she met, rather the positive experiences. Apple's to orange's comparison I know but that's what I first thought of while reading this thread.
Yes, you want to go into any venture like this with eyes wide open so input from those who have done it, both good and bad, is very valuable. There are scary lows but also euphoric highs in this business, only you can judge if you are willing and able to deal with both extremes. Best wishes!