Welcome to PEEL, dj gs68!
I play Bemani games but my experience is average. Usually it's been mostly DDR games, at college, at the arcade, etc. I haven't touched the other music games much. As for skill, I can pass a few songs on Standard with A, but AA is still a long ways for me.
I don't think you'll find many regular players at this board. However, the DDR series is uber-fun, it really tests your stamina and reflexes, and one of the few games that gets you physically fit
Story checks out. You're from Cali, where the best players hail from