There are some very smart people on this forum. Thanks for the feedback guys.
I've definitely broken through many hurdles and milestones (in my mind) as I've progressed in skill. Every time I feel I make a "breakthrough" and feel I've just gotten a full ball better I realize over time I'm only a half ball or quarter ball better. But the breakthroughs are almost tangible. Over time, naturally without forcing it, I've found the "need" to improve my safety play and banking ability. Initially I thought I'd have to schedule this in, but it's developing naturally on an as needed type of basis. That is another way I know I'm moving up. Eventually I predict those elements will become the major part of my focus, naturally.
I don't often play other people. I want to come up sort of quietly until I'm ready to play well. The shortcoming of that philosophy of course is inexperience. I do play against a few friends occasionally and play matches against myself. But the pressure of serious live matches is real and I have yet to experience that. I figure once I arrive at A level by ratings system I will begin to gamble at pool halls to gain experience under pressure.
I think we will see pool grow significantly over the next 5 years, and with that many new young kids will enter the scene. As in the poker boom, technology available today (not merely the equipment but the internet and information available as well) will be maximized by these people to boost their skills at a much faster rate than would have been possible 20 years ago. I'm anticipating that because it happened in poker--with today's level of play being ultra sophisticated by comparison to just a decade ago. I think the 10,000 hour rule will be readdressed in the near future as society develops, and will be found to be significantly reduced as technology soars (Neo learning kung fu in The Matrix after some video programming in his head is an exaggeration of this but that's the way we may be headed).
Still, I think we're far away from fully expediting something that takes as much muscle memory as pool. I think if I can accomplish this (especially with my grueling 75 hr/week job) it would be an incredible feat. Like you guys have said, it means less than a tournament-proven rating level, but I think that is heavily mental once the solid mechanics, sighting/aiming, position play, and strategic knowledge components are acquired. Hypnosis alone has cured some people of these mental blunders (Chael Sonnen is a recent great example).
I will post my results at the end of the year and hopefully I meet my goal. If not I'll just keep trying aggressively anyway until I do because this game is so satisfying to play.
I will take the straight pool advice as well. I'd forgone that to improve my rotation skills, but it's a good time to take that step. Wish me luck!