What must be learned about the Macs OS structure to understand what it's like to live with OCLP and it's maintenance?

I'm interested in OCLP for an MBP2010.

But I am unconvinced that OCPL is as simple to use and maintain as proponents say. Usually, they have so much experience that they unintentionally mislead - not due to malice, but just because they've forgotten how much knowledge and experience they already had.

Can you make a list of required learning would make it easier to understand what basic changes in the OS are needed, and why? Can anyone point to a canonical list of essentials which would help explain the hurdles and practical issues that will be encountered trying to maintain a Mac running OCLP?