Aaron, I would recommend that you do not mention that you are a HI. Many do see you guys as the enemy, why I don't know
, and will not hesitate to let you know how much they dislike you. Usually it is the ones who "hack" their way through the job. Some just don't like to be told that they aren't doing things correctly, "I've been doing it this way for 20 years and it has always worked and I am not going change it."
IMHO if a tech in my field isn't learning they aren't working. Every day I learn something new and I am sure I will until I either leave the trade or die.
Unfortunately the only way for you to learn anything technical on the site is to be a "professional member".
We all have to get along in the trades (whether or not we like it) because without each other we won't have a job.