That's great stuff! Quick reactions:
* Redesign version: (-2) way too much text.
* Options version: (-1) nice & simple. But while there are 3 main things you can do from this page, it's layed out as 2 things. For that reason I find it a bit confusing. 1. Learn more... 2. Create my user page 3. Edit a page a. ... in the sandbox b. ... identified by searching for the title
* Video version: (+2) nice! Very much my favorite!
* Easy steps version: (-1) basically, what you get if you didn't click the video in the Video version.
* Bookshelf version: (-1) Hit's me the same way an advertisement would.
* Polish version: (+0) I like the idea of just one thing to do. Maybe more like a wizardy-ish thing, where you go through sequential steps?
* Mod2: (-1) Nice layout, lots of good info. Big improvement over the "Redesign" version. But I imagine the reader will still be overwhelmed. "Don't make me think" got it right. ( https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Don%27t_Make_Me_Think ).
* Video walkthru: I like the size (width,height) of the video. Could it be tested with different videos to pick one that is "best" for a wide audience? My take on the menu of 7 things under the video are things the enterprising user would hunt for in the menu at the left. I'd take the 7 menu items out.