Dan,

I might know of a well used cheap 300D coming up for grabs if you are interested? It will be pretty cheap, but I doubt it will come with a lens.

About your A and S question, I will let Hien or another guru to answer it better but from my POV
A is aperture = the amount of light allowed into the lens
S is shutter = how quick it takes the photo 1/2000 is FAST like drag racing/rally car photos 8 = slowish I think it means 8 seconds? or 8ms meaning it will hold the shutter open that long, I think with 8 you would need a tripod or a steady surface because the shutter will be open for ages, This is good for flashless photography of static objects. You also get some cool effects, sit it on a table and take a photo on that setting of a low lighted object in a room with your aperture wide open, you will get a pretty cool photo