EQEmulator Forums - Any solution for a new install of EQ?

Guys, I'd like to apologize for the newbie post. I've searched the forums, and everything I've read so far has been for clients who haven't patched after 9/13. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, I've come to the game a bit late.

I purchased EQ a couple years ago, but never really got into it. I guess I was still pretty wrapped up with UO. In fact I still run a UO server using the RunUO emulator. I recently decided that after 6 years of UO (I bought it in the "cloth map" timeframe), I'm burned out. I tried DAoC for a bit, and got my Albion Scout to lvl 37, but then got sorta burned out on that one too.

So anyway, I'd really like to try EQ. Unfortunately, since I have never installed it or patched, I wouldn't have any old clients, and I know it's not appropriate to ask for older clients either. I downloaded the free EQ Trilogy that they were offering here: http://everquest.station.sony.com/trilogy/download.jsp and installed it, and of course, immediately double-clicked the desktop icon which started the patch process :) So I cannot login. I would re-install it, but the Wiki points out that there are no original clients that work with the server (because they always patch immediately).

So my questions are these:
1: Is there anyway to stop the patch process after a certain version?

B: Would it work with a clean install of the trilogy setup?

00000011: Would you recommend that I actually play EQ on a 'real' server before even trying to get into this?

IV: Would it do any good to go out and purchase the latest version of EQ?

and finally...

Is there any way for someone in my position to play on a EQemu shard?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[EDIT]
So I found the 'Idiot Posters' forum. Feel free to throw me in there.

It looks like I'm just SOL for now. Probably better if I play on the real servers for a bit anyway.
[/EDIT]