CAM Software and Hardware

I recently hooked my Sherline up for CNC with hopes of doing amazing
things with it and have been pretty disappointed thus far. The
steppers only run about one revolution per second at best, which, if
my math is correct, is about 1 inch per 20 seconds. Even at that
rate they are not smooth and jerk terribly. The software doesn't do
what I would think are basic necessaties. For example I would really
like to be able to do some sort of looping so I could just change one
axis of a cut and do it over and over to achieve the desired cut
depth or distance. Current method is write the first path then cut
and paste then go back and change the moving axis for each path.
Tedious and creates a potential for failure. Also, although it says
it does cutter radius compensation I can't seem to figure it out. I
have scoured the internet for info on CNC programming and suprisingly
I find very little. I am a computer geek by trade and have a strong
mechanical, electrical, drafting, CAD, and programming background but
this is kicking my bu#@.
Sadly thus far my CNC milling has been reduced to very slow running
of extremely simple tasks. Basically letting it do the same simple
routine over and over so I don't have to turn the cranks but
certainly not doing anything 'elegant'.
In reading some of the emails in this group I have a feeling my
configuration my be unique or I am doing something wrong as I'm
seeing people boast of unbelievable speeds and some pretty impressive
accomplishments. Do I need to scratch my purchased $1000 package
config and follow a proven homebuilders recipe?