This seems dumb to me, I'm surprised by now they don't have a definitive paper that exposes as the film was exposed like a transparency would appear correct if it were exposed correctly. Seems stupid to make people jump through hoops to produce something they already shot and developed to be a certain way, why struggle to print it when you've gone through the trouble of exposing/developing it a particular way.
When you scan, I would bet you at least adjust levels. If so, you are going through an hoop. When you have that "perfect," perhaps you want a little more detail in an area and use the burn tool. Another hoop.
Neg-Pos printing is an "imperfect" process that, when used together, work together to be more "perfect." You have to develop with printing (or scanning) in mind. A transparency is also "imperfect," but what is considered correct is basically considered such within the confines of the medium (which is very good).
I'm not yet capable of this, but exposing a negative, then printing to paper, without any of those hoops can produce a "correct" image that most would be quite happy with; much like the automation of a C-41 mini lab. I think the point is, it can always be done better, which is where the "hoops" come in, and where I imagine most people on this BBS are coming from. Lighting and exposure can be as perfect as possible, but one may want a little more detail in a shadow, or smoother highlights, etc.
Don't worry about this at first. Just do it and enjoy it. First come up with some prints that other people think are "nice" even if they are not up to your standards; just aim for "good enough." Make sure, above all, that you enjoy yourself - this way you will not be put off by it. Only then should you worry about getting better. Progress in increments.
It has been a very long time since I've been in a darkroom. When I finally print, I will not go through all of these hoops (except to teach my best friend what I know - and what I know is little). I intend to print several rolls of B&W I've taken over the past few years - every frame, even the bad ones, and the ones that I messed up developing or creased while putting the film on the reel. It will be practice.
I will just print to get a nice pictures and be happy to have remembered that much. I will then take the better images and start going through the hoops until I get where I used to be (which was not very far), and I will be happy with that. Then I will learn and get better.
So basically, just do it. Don't worry about it. Enjoy the process first, get a feel for it; worry about becoming good at it later. Expect to make mistakes... actually, make mistakes on purpose.
Do not expect to play Paganini when you first pick up the violin, even if you can play it well on an harmonica.