I know I have more than enough vices to bother judging anyone elses, what with the amount of beer I drink. What you really need to do is figure out how to light up WHILE you ride. Cool like snakes.
And congrats on your first ride, everything will get easier. Wait, no that's not right...what do they say? "It doesn't get easier, you just get faster". You'll get faster. I've been commuting on the same route for a year now, I still get home just as sweaty.