The first wall to fall was when I figured out that we are in the age of the kingdom of God right now. Once I figured out that, all the parables fell neatly into place. This is far simpler than you make it out. dispensationalism is wacky complicated with its segretationism.
Yeah, a lot of people find the Bible hard. I imagine it's tempting just to squish over all the details and edges, and force it all into a big, pastel, washy water color painting. When there are no controlling facts, it's a lot easier. The cult I was saved out of did that.
And I've heard all sorts of stories about why folks left Protestantism for Roman Catholicism, all sad. I tend to stick to the facts of the text, as noted above, again and again.
Dan