Venturing into the Murky and Somewhat Confusing World of Self-Publishing

So done a little bit of research and have discovered the following self-publishing platforms:

1.( Create Space )

2.( Author House )

3. ( Kindle Direct )

4. ( Dog Ear Publishing )

5. ( Lulu )

6. ( Infinity Publishing )

I don't know, color me confused. Feeling a bit overwhelmed and depressed by the whole thing. I either have to do it all myself or spend a lot of money to get someone else to do it...while getting very little back in return either way. Good thing, I'm not publishing my book for the money. (Most writers, well fiction writers, like dancers, actors and artists aren't really in it for the money (lots of money)...it's rare you'll make that much. This is the sort of thing you do for love and often have a day job or someone else with a day-job to fall back on.)

Self Publishing Platform Poll

Furtherance to my post on Self-Publishing Platforms: Spoke to my Dad, who uses Author House, and he recommended Lulu, stating that the less money you spend on this venture the better. Then cut me off mid-drunken-rant about the publishing industry, to go watch 60 minutes. (Sigh).

Below is a poll. I'm looking for a publishing platform that is user friendly, doesn't cost all that much, will help with the cover, ISBN, copyright registration, and distribute on e-platforms. Don't care all that much about hard copies or paperback. Be nice if it provides a proofer or editor.

Impromtu poll...[Poll #1990808]


Or should I continue to shop around literary agents and traditional publishers. Only gotten 20 rejection letters to date.

ETA: This was a useful link:

http://magnificentdevices.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/self-pub-workflow.pdf

My father suggested I wait until January to do all of this. Which I was planning on doing anyhow. And didn't I already have it professionally copy-edited? (I did via Robin Ink - the editor that my father uses who is a professional.) But being me, I'm not satisfied. Typos bug me. Think about what I do for a living, I told him. I get kicked for typos and grammatical errors. Heck, I fix other people's typos and errors.
A wee bit sensitive to this sort of thing.