... I've come to this conclusion after trying for a solid week to get user authentication/authorization/roles done using DBIx::Class and a MySQL database. I tried looking at the relavent POD, but after (trying) to implement it how it shows, it leaves you with more questions then answers.

After a solid week, you should try asking for help (via SOPW or some-catalyst-mailing list). Show what you've attempted and how its failing for you.

Basically my complaint is that every Document and Tutorial assumes you're already a master at the MVC layout and Catalyst and there is almost slightly less then zero tutorials or documentation for a beginning user trying to setup even a basic program using Catalyst.

Sounds to me like you're so frustrated, you're overlooking the obvious, Catalyst::Manual::Intro.

If you have questions, write them down, pass them around, you're probably not the only one whos been frustrated :)(they might even end up in the faq)

You might want to try Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication::CDBI, as its mentioned in the Catalyst::Manual::Cookbook, and Class::DBI can handle mysql, among many other backends.