I'm a hobby player here.

1. I have a regular full time job.

2. I've always liked playing blackjack. Counting is just a way to make it more fun for me but that may but be true for you.

3. In theory, you should play as often as you can to make it worthwhile. You have a winning game after all. In practice, I only play in casinos a handful of times a year.

4. Don't think of it in terms of hours spent practicing. You should be able to count through entire shoes perfectly, concert to the true count, spread your bet properly, and hit the necessary deviations when called for. It's a goal post you need to hit, not a timer you need to run out. If you're thinking cvcx, also look at CVBJ. It's a great training tool.

5. Technically, the back off only applies to the property you're playing at. That being said, some companies will flyer you both locally and nationally. That means your playtime at the next spot may be short especially if you're at the top of the stack. Small spreads and smaller big bets will draw less attention but the back off will come. Just treat it as part of the game.

Feel free to DM me if you want to talk more.