Beginner help: I'm the beginner and I need YOUR help!

["Scott Fraser" scottbfraser]

<<And there there is the Sony ECM-MS957 or the AT822 (both of which
can be used singly for stereo recording, no? I like that!)>>

Yes, both can be used for single-point stereo recording. My
experience with a number of Sony ECM-series electret stereo mics is
that they are all quite noisy, substantially lacking in low frequency
response, less mono compatible than the geometry of their design
would indicate, & generally yield rather ragged unrefined recordings.
The AT822 suffers to a lesser extent all these ills, & my main
response to it is that it's been rather noisy. As with all things,
you get what you pay for. I've not been pleased with any single point
stereo mics I've run across for under about $3,000.

Scott Fraser