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(hey it looks better than before, that's what counts :P).


The difference in the amount of work between a great looking result and one that's "hey it looks better than before", is attention to detail and more time. If you spend more time up front perfecting all the details, you'll be happier in the end, and it will be less total work than going back to fix areas you are not happy with.

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would anyone think it would be easier sanding down to near bare metal


If the existing paint is sticking well, not cracked or peeling, leave it there and just prep it. I only recommend stripping to bare metal if the car already has three or more paint jobs on it (including the original) or, as noted, the paint is falling apart and cracking/peeling/etc. If it is just cracking/peeling, only strip those areas where it needs to be stripped. It's rarely necessary to strip the whole car.

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I want to do gloss white on my black car

I'm pretty sure that's a crime. If it isn't, it should be. Maybe it's just me