You can post any questions on here too, the board seems to have slowed a bit during the vacation summer months, but there are lots of good folks here to give you their thoughts.
And you will always get different advice from different people, but you are correct, LFS can not usually be trusted, you have to do your own research, and don't buy anything impulsively.
So you have had a 28g for 8 months, I assume you have an upgrade planned?
Maybe a larger tank with a sumpe, halides? You know you waaaaaana.
Find that cable to upload pics! If it is lost, get a card reader, they are cheap.