Regarding Group Finder, as I said in the OP, I am trying to avoid random PUGs like the plague. I don't need the aggravation.
Yeah I have a Smuggler I started today for the two Republic FPs. He's at lvl 12. I did try queuing for Warzones on him earlier, but it was the middle of the night in the US, so no joy. I've parked him until the weekend, will try again then.