Mac's absolutely on-target about the "finger-gauge" thing. Once you've got it, putting your hand to the strings feels like going home.

I started on guitar in 1970, wanting to play like Rev. Gary Davis. I knew he fingerpicked, but had no idea he used only the thumb and forefinger. I taught myself (mostly), using T, I, M, and A. It took a while to figure out why I wasn't getting Davis's sound, but in the long run I was happy, because I could do lots of things the two and three-fingered players couldn't.
(On the other hand, I saw Taj Mahal play last night. He only uses T,I &A, but man......!!!!!).