In terms of working experience with film and darkroom, I have a background from my fine arts period, where I was working exclusivly with MF film (Mamiya) and huge enlargements.
I've been trained by Balthasar Burkhard that unfortunatly passed away this year, a gran format master http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthasar_Burkhard who was teaching at that time in the Fine Arts school.
So film developement, dark room is a place where I spent a lot of time during many years. I was doing my B&W and slides myself But I've never put my hand on a LF camera. Never.
In that case go for it, you will still waste lots of sheets. Find a jobo drum that will take 10x8 I can't remember the product number but it's the one with chambers like a revolver. If you do B&W the jobo machine for the drum is not necessary at this stage, I've used my drum rolling up and down the table. I found the drum the most reliable easy way to get even consistent dev on sheet film. If you don't have easy access to a dark darkroom you might want to budget for a changing ten.
10x8 makes for beautiful contacts.
Kevin.