"we breed 'em tough and fearless here"
Bug - Love your attitude!! Go for it man, and as for "...or should i go for the full monty and just grit my teeth?" Grit your teeth, but for goodness sake, don't get carried away and do something you may later live to regret (or worse, you don't live to regret)!! I'd spend a looooong time at a very looooow hover and doing lots of very gentle manoevres before ding anything that could really bite you.
Best of luck with it - would love to come and help if you need another pair of hands!
TTB