Hey there,
I like the suggestion to buy something inexpensive and make your first mistakes with that. This is what I did. I flew it, broke it more than once, replaced parts that were a lot less expensive than Phantom parts are, and when it finally didn't come back one day (no return to home feature? Don't fly it too far), it was time to upgrade to a phantom.
That said, I have crashed my Phantom more than once and have replaced the camera/gimbal package twice @ $350 each. So reading guidelines and following rules is something you always want to keep in mind, or you will pay for it.
Above the clouds (from the other thread): one easy way to get this in the city is during a foggy morning. Depending on your area, you might be able to find a hill in the area that is above those clouds (fog == clouds at ground level). Remember that the 400 foot elevation rule is 400' above ground level (meaning your take off point, probably about where you are standing). So if you're taking off above the clouds, you're not breaking the rule. Consider this image:
The drone was legal where this shot was taken (the image is cropped for you forensic experts). But if I flew out closer to those buildings, I would get farther from the hill I was standing on and therefore over 400' feet above the ground at the foot of the hill and beyond.
Another thought: just because you live in a city doesn't mean you can't take a drive out of it. Go to places of elevation to see if you can find a place above the clouds, where you can still follow the 400' rule.
Chris