Then skip the power chords and come back to them. I promise the Guitar Police won't fine you. ;-)

re: the hard way. Nope. There is enough that's naturally difficult about learning to play guitar that you don't need to pile on stuff that doesn't have to be hard. Good guitar, good strings, good set up, a practice glove.

And then move on to the next lesson. The power chords will be waiting for you when you want them.

PS -- If you're on acoustic and that's the kind of music you want to play, I don't think they're crucial anyway. They pretty much went in one ear and out the other for me, at least for now, and I don't miss them...