rather than to try learn some other way and try to figure out how to recreate it in Houdini
This is an important point to me. Unless your very good at droping expectations/workflows of what your learned in one package when you move to another package, this could possibly be your biggest frustration/obstacle in learning the new software.
I only say this from my experience of moving from Solidworks(which other than a brief exploration with Blender) was my first 3D software package of which I used for 3D printing.
When I lost access to SW, I had to look at another package in order to continue 3D printing, so chose Rhino.
Of which I stopped using and as a consequence stopped my 3d printing hobby because I was so put off on not being able to do the same workflow.
It's not that Rhino was bad or not capable, because it was more than capable for my needs; It was just that I saw it was almost like starting from scratch again.
I eventually in time with some fits and starts finally hunkered down and went through with it grudgingly in setting up a workflow to get back into 3D printing(before I was aware of Houdini).
I could say more…but I guess the point is made.