Only hearing a regularly scheduled net is pretty common these days, repeaters aren't what they used to be. It's a case of the lights are on but nobody's home, the machines are there but very little used since interest has fallen WAY off. Your best bet is a multi mode rig that covers 6m, 2M, 70cM at least, that way you can do FM simplex and weak signal work as well as repeaters, there's a LOT more to VHF/UHF than meet's the new ham's eye. It used to be repeaters were a good stepping stone but times have changed, for the most part new hams find few to nobody to talk with and lose interest leaving the service without ever finding out how much more is at their fingertips.
Pardon my giggles over that radio check thing, I've heard replies giving 5 & 9 (loud and clear) reports that just crack me up. Of course, what else? The one giving the report is hearing the REPEATER and not the one asking. DOH! Calling CQ on a repeater is frowned upon so the procedure varies but here it's (callsign, then repeated phonetically) listening. If no one answers pause a minute and repeat, if again no one answers nobody is monitoring the repeater so more calls are futile.
BTW memorizing unfamiliar callsigns while concentrating on driving is difficult at best and really not necessary for proper ID. The FCC only cares that you ID your station either at the beginning or 10 minutes into the conversation, every 10 thereafter and at the conclusion.
One last thought, studying for the license will only give you what you need to know to pass the test, nothing more. For that more you need to associate with other hams who can "elmer" you on the finer points of ham radio. That's where clubs come in, you can find them in your area any number of ways (da boyz here can elaborate) and the best place to start is with one that administers the test.
On edit, looks like Bruce jumped in there while I was typing, pardon the duplication.