Joe I'd agree with you - and maybe even be guilty of it myself. It was harder for me as an unbeliever and new Christian to reconcile some of the bigger questions of the Old Testament (I.E the destruction of the human race, slavery, stonings, etc.) with the idea of a good and loving God so it was easier to client to the New Testament where we are told to "Love God and love each other". We often want to characteristic of unconditional love and grace without acknowledging the justness within the character of God. Perhaps the second question is the answer to the first - that Christ is the linchpin and the answer to the reconciliation of the relationship between God and His creation and the ultimate fulfillment of grace...but to have that we need to understand the story of the Old Testament.