Last question (I hope) on magic learning strategies (Machaka or similar multi-path)?

Windreaper's suggestions are all good. Though in my personal experience, picking up a middleweight air pretender is more to my playstyle. It allows you a little more versatility with easy access to flying units and site searching. Of course you can still use your PoD as a Province grabber early on, which is also very nice. Definitely look at heavy order and production scales and magic are all very nice.