It's funny that you mention the other women guitarists. I found myself thinking the same thing...trying to think back to seeing their photos at award shows and trying to remember if their nails were clipped to the nubs (as mine are now) and if their fingers looked as beat up as mine :) I figure as long as my husband is understanding, I don't need to worry about anyone else. I can get some Lee press-on nails for special occasions ha ha!!
Razbo: It was hard enough not to purchase an electric guitar -- if I had known it would be easier on my fingers, I probably would have been sold!! I had to force myself away from them. They were calling to me :D But, there's no going back now. Although the electric sounds like so much fun, and I see many of the rock tutorials on GT are geared toward electric, I love my acoustic, and I won't be switching over until I master it.
I definitely don't feel like I have to sing with my acoustic -- the world will be a better place if I can keep my singing to the car and the shower. Hopefully I'll be able to keep myself entertained with the acoustic -- without singing!!
Electric or acoustic, the guitar is definitely addicting. It's all I want to do -- I never thought it would be this much fun!! Even with the sore fingers (which seem to be holding up better already after only 1 week) :) I'm always open to new ideas though - I don't have my calluses yet - so I'm going to look into the string conditioner. Thanks!