[bolox]

So would the included CLoD campaign be a good way to start?

probably not, the included RAF campaign is 'pretty poor'- I regard it as little more than a 'tech demo' that got included when time /money ran out.
However there is a 'remake' in the works- just reaching beta stage now
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.ph...ml#Post3654577
If you can wait a little this will be alot better experience.

there were some fantastic user made campaigns out there , but I don't see much info here on them so assume they are not so prevalent as they were with the earlier series?

there are a variety of user made campaigns out there
http://airwarfare.com/sow/index.php/...ine-campaigns- 32Sqn might be a good start?
or possibly this new one?
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.ph...ml#Post3678788

Or should I consider maybe purchasing one of the Desastersoft campaigns?

They may be designed for more experienced players but why not try the demo for free? (dl link at bottom of page), and make your own mind up
http://www.desastersoft.com/en/product-wick-dundas.html

I was also looking forward into getting into and learning CEM, but from what I understand from this forum that is broken for offline flying and only really works for online flying, which is sad.

CEM works offline. CoD has a similarity with IL2 in that AI are hard to keep up with- but it is possible. Try keeping rpm at 2600 to keep temps down.

Re overall performance, yes there are places where the sim can 'choke'- some missions worse than others. You can always drop a few graphic settings to help 'raise the fps floor' in these.Switching shadows off, dropping land shading,effects to medium are worth investigating.

Comms 'sort of works' now- just try to forget how IL2 did it