I wouldn't have a clue how to write my own wrapper classes, that sort of thing is a fair way off yet, I think. So yeah, I'm still tossing up over whether to use SlimDX, or to bite the bullet and learn C++. It's a language I'll have to learn one day anyway, and the extra time required to learn it before I can get into my game doesn't really bother me. I enjoy a language for its own sake. I've found a whole book online that seems really good from the bits I've "flicked through" if that's possible on a computer. It's on Amazon for $27 I think, and gamedev.net used it for one of their workshops, so it must be alright!
C++ will probably be hard, but it'll be worth the effort, and I'll enjoy the challenge, methinks.
Cheers,
metal