Why not? I only recently started on this crypto currency thing, and you should give it a try. Not only is there bitcoin, but litecoin and other 'alternative' currencies as well. Each and every one of them are interesting in their own right.

I would advise, from what I know, for you to first set up either coinbase or bitfinex account. Bit stamp too, but I hear the mt.gox style downfall may be on the horizon, so decide for yourself.

You need to first turn your fiat into btc.

$10,000 is not unresonable.

If you asked me 100k, maybe. But we have a lot of hurdles to go before 10k reaches our grasp, and probably will not happen before mid 2015 at the earliest unless market picks up tremendously this year.