Packet Radio is making me WTF real hard

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So I've got a packet radio question. Actually, I've got two: what the hell is it, and is my idea bat crap insane?

I've been reading up on packet radio systems, but I'm now more confused than when I started.

I [I]started[/I] with the idea of "oh, cool, I can buy a few Raspberry Pi's, TNC-Pi's, and some BF9500's and make a packet radio network throughout town with the help of my friends so we can talk via text if there's no cell service".

Problem is, once I started diving into how packet radio works, I realized that the more I knew only made me realize how little I knew. It seems fairly niche in the amateur radio world. All I know at this point is, "computer sends info to magic box, magic box sends info to radio, radio sends packets to receiver over radio waves". Am I missing something?"

So: does anyone have a link to a "Packet Radio for Dummies" or something? A good 101 course or video? I just want to see how packet radio truly functions, what software is available for a TNC, and how I can harness it for a BBS or other live chat function using some of the inexpensive TNC modems available like the TNC-X, and its brother the TNC-Pi.

If I'm way over my head, please tell me, so I can figure out how to NOT be over my head.