well plans changed, my comp took a shit so I just ordered a brand new setup (q8200, gigabyte mobo, 4gb corsair memory, etc etc)...probably getting an interface in a month or two when I have some more cash laying around, until then I'll just fiddle around with the line-in setup.
I'm also planning on ordering a new guitar soon, in the next couple of months, because I'm actually thinking that it's more the guitar than the actual recording setup (as I know several people who go about recording their home demos this way [line-in to amplitube/revalver/etc] and they get clarity and note definition no problem.)
I'm probably going to order one from rondomusic, as they seem to be excellent quality guitars for the money (better than your run-of-the-mill squire or something).