I first learned Photoshop & Paint Shop Pro for doing my photos. Actually, I started on 35mm film 20+ years ago before digital. I only learned PS & PSP because I used to do my own graphics for my websites. That was in the 90's.
As for online photo stuff & have my own website & domain name. I don't need to post 10000000000 pictures of everything I take. I just upload a few samples to showcase what I can do. The rest are put in my CD collection (I have 600+ cds & about 10000 prints IIRC)
For filters/plug ins etc...there are tons of tutorials online. That's how I learned to use them...but I don't go over board with them in my photography. It tends too make pictures look too "artsy" if you will.
Currently I just use Photoshop CS (for pictures) & Dreamweaver MX to design my sites.