You're definitely on the right track.  Alby is the best, imo.  I was fortunate enough to get in early before they put the brakes on new signups.

Definitely make the effort to apply for access.  I think they have a process where you can ask for an invite.  Basically as long as you're honest about things, and provide ways where they can verify you are a real human being and not a bot, hopefully they will let you in.  Provide any ways you can muster up to prove your online identity like other online social accounts, or whatever stuff they ask for.