I don't want to be just "good enough". I want my weapon of choice to feel like an extension of my own body and I master it. Obviously that doesn't happen overnight, but as you stated, with lots of time behind the trigger. Now I just need the $$ to provide that time.
Lots of dry-fire helps most shooters.
All of the best shooters I know do it a lot to maintain a high level of skill.
With the economy like it is, if I couldn't dry-fire my gun a lot due to the mfrs' recommendation or at least get a .22 conversion kit, I would get rid of it unless snapcaps worked in it.