Fonts Won't Install; Fonts Confuse Me

[Fred Stevens K2FRD]

I don't know if there's any font junkies on the list, but I'm a 
wannabe and like a wide variety of fonts available. There's a LOT of 
fonts already in OS X, but the way they are organized and accessible 
(or not) confuses me. Also, when I download and try to install a 
font, I can't get it to appear in Appleworks no matter where I 
install it although it MAY appear in TextEdit. Mac Help didn't help 
very much except to tell me how it is SUPPOSED to work, but doesn't; 
i.e. per Mac Help, "To install a font, drag it into the font file of 
the Library in the OS X System Folder in Mac HD". They don't appear 
when I do this. First, however, I need some clarification on fonts in 
general::

Fonts are stored on my machine in four separate locations:  (1) In 
the Library in the OS X System Folder in Mac HD; (2) In just the 
Library in the HD; (3) In the Library under my Username in Users on 
the HD; and (4) In Appleworks Extra Fonts in Applications on the HD 
(these seem to have to be moved to be accessible). When I click onto 
Text in a word processing document within Appleworks or Text Edit, 
not all fonts from the first three locations show up in the pull down 
menu. Why not and what can I do to make them appear? Wouldn't it be 
better to have them stored in one location (I'm the only user of my 
iBook 900)?

It used to be there was only one type of font:  ttf. Now, there's 
four in one grouping and two in another:  dfont, otf, ttf, and suit 
(for suitcase), and LET Fonts and ITCTT. When I download a font, it 
doesn't matter (or it didn't before) what the font's format was; I 
had a tt converter. What's the difference and how should I use or 
apply them or otherwise treat the font type when I install them?

I might add that I had added many fonts on my last machine using OS 
8.6 where they were installed in only one location (System Folder). 
When I moved folders to this new iBook, many came with the move, but 
not all are showing up.

Anyone able to help me out of this perplexing situation or know a 
site which might explain fonts in detail?

Thanks!
Fred