I finished DM way back when it was released in 1987/88 with no help from anybody,well you couldnt get help then apart from magazine tips section which came around once amonth (ST Action,ST format,ST user,CVG etc),you was actually better off just sticking with the problem and solving it.
Nowadays its easy as we have the internet and i dont look for advice unless im totally stuck,then again if i do get stuck i can ask the pros that are on this forum.
Once ive finshed this im onto Eye of the Beholder series and maybe Bloodwych.(Then again forget Bloodwych).