"To me, that is a much better base to proceed from in the 21st century."
It may well be a better base. My problem isn't so much with the idea of an NRST as it is with the idea that it will be a panacea solving all the problems with taxation. I'm not at all sure that it won't create as many problems as it solves.
I'm afraid that those who advocate the NRST are like a guy with a new girlfriend, being blinded by love, they really don't see everything. And, they certainly don't won't to be told their new girl might have a just a small blemish or two. I'm really advising caution more than anything else.
I'd suggest you do more reading up on both the FairTax bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c109:./temp/~c109Cauz5d
and the FairTax website:
http://www.fairtax.org/index.html
I think you'll find a lot of your concerns answered.