...My biggest concern is that there are so many exchanges. How the heck do I know which ones will pay me after I make an exchange? I know I have to check their reserve balance, but what else should I look for?
You should not forget that in addition to centralized exchanges, there are also decentralized ones, using which you will receive your coins to your wallet immediately after making a transaction. Since there is nothing more reliable than storing coins on your wallet, therefore, using DAX is preferable for medium-term trading.