Wanting to root, need a few noob questions answered please

I've looked over a lot of rooting threads and guides here and on other websites (droid-life, etc.) and I'm familiar with there being many ways to actually root (like SuperOneClick, z4root, and manually flashing an .sbf), but I still have a few questions.

First: Is there any way to back up a phone pre-root, without paying for an app I'll use once? Would there even be a need to do this?

Second: I haven't been able to find this anywhere, but when I root, do I retain all my apps and only lose them if I choose to flash a rom/theme?

Third: I've read a lot of mixed things and think I confused myself here: If I were to install a rom and/or new theme, do all of my apps automatically re-download? Do I restore them from something like Titanium (or would this un-do my flash)? Or do i manually re-download them?

Thank you to anyone in advance.

 

Thank you all for responding so quickly!

I'm still on the fence about rooting. I have the worst luck, and so I'm convinced (at least a little) I'll be one of the few who truly bricks a phone. And I don't have $600 to cover buying a new phone.

I think I'll sleep on it, and if I end up doing nothing tomorrow night (as I probably will), I may give it a shot then.

 

Ok, so I rooted with SuperOneClick. Ty for the link, Furbearing =)

First thing I did was get Titanium backup Pro, and make a full backup.

Now, I think the next thing I need to do is make a nandroid backup, but don't know how.

Also, I'm interested in loading a ROM onto my phone.

 

I'm currently looking over post 1 in your sig (You've rooted, now what?) and I have to say, it's a great write up. =)

Though even after looking it over, I'm still slightly at a loss, so I will ask nicely if you would provide a bit of support to this root-newb? Please? You are all knowing, and wise and powerful, and anything else that says I am bad and you are good... =D