Hmmm, miata.net was pretty friendly when I had my Montego Blue '96 back in 2000-2002, but that's an eternity ago on the 'net and I do vaguely recall it getting pretty nasty in some areas about the time I sold the Miata. My member # over there is 1021; the most recent member was #36195

so I guess I was there near the beginning.
As for the rites of passage, you forgot the corollary to keep a hat in the car - keep sunscreen in the glove box. I think I had the baby teeth out about 4 minutes after I got the car home, and I had the front plate off about 2 minutes before that and the sun visors were pulled out right in the dealer's lot

Don't forget to wave to fellow Miata owners.
Scott