Welcome on board Aaron, it is a fine madness. IMHO calling monofilament tippet is a marketing ploy to raise the price, I have never quite figured out the whole X line size thing, I use 2#, 4# & 6# mono for tippet. Before you get used to the tapered leader idea someone will ambush you with furled leaders (which are good things). Equipment is going to be dependent upon what you fish for, for bluegill and crappie about any old reel will do, for bass and larger something with a pretty good drag is a good idea but you live in the land adjacent to water inhabited by large red fish and other such beasties, you may want to get a reel with lots of line capacity and a great drag and a rod capable of flinging comparatively heavy flies.

Hopefully you can find some old guy who will take a youngster like you under this wing and guide you along. If not when you have a question ask it there are thousands of years of experience here. There is likely nothing you think of trying that some of us, if not most of us, have not already tried. If you think it's a dumb question, it has already been ask, you weren't there then, ask it again.