From what I can tell this is where you are running into your problem. Your strike water volume shouldn't be higher than your sparge water volume. At least in any case I've ever experienced. I would think with that much strike water you are probably pouring a lot of highly diluted wort back into...
From what I can tell Midwest is the most reasonably priced. No flat rate shipping but they make up for it with better prices. As far as what to brew first maybe try something with enough flavor to hide any mishaps you might have dialing in your new system. Pale or IPA I would think.
Haha my thoughts exactly. Glad I'm not the only one with this in my list of pros to home brewing. Without a LHBS this is absolutely something I'll be working on during the end of days.
OH SNAP! But seriously, anyone close to her is probably not cruising this board so I see no reason to take offense to any comments made. I just try to keep in mind that we are all just insane apes waiting to expire while hurtling on a giant rock through space... when you look at it like that...
Congrats, hope your beers turn out awesome. Good call on going to kegging right away, defiantly an early investment you won't regret. Faster turn around and ALOT less hassle(but you probably already know that!). Enjoy and RDWHAHB!