I`m happy with this -QT version though, it makes a lot more sense to look at, though I can`t seem to change DB cache value in there from the default 450Mb, and I tried opening the conf file and it won`t open? so I`ll just leave it for now.
You should be able to change this by clicking Settings, no need to manually edit the config file.
will that mean that when it`s fully synced I`m technically running a node?
Yes.
I know I`d like to get TOR implemented on there and use that rather than my own IP eventually, but that`s not essential to running a node.
For mining, Tor (delays) are not recommended. Imagine you'll jackpot-mine a block, but are half a second slow in broadcasting it so someone else wins....