If you don't really know how to program in other languages, I'd recommended picking up a good book on just plain Ruby. Knowing the underlying language will help make learning Rails easier. Also the know more about the Object Orientation, and other programming techniques will help you greatly.

If you knew other programming languages you might be able to get by without this.

PHP and Ruby both have their strengths and weaknesses (I build in both). Ruby/Rails is tougher to pickup but once you get over the hump you'll find it makes a lot sense.

The big issue I still have with Rails in the scalability of the applications and the limited hosting options, both of which are improving.

Mubs