Another fwiw...

Properly bleeding your brake system (with or without a friend, depending on the friend) can be a pita without something like this from Harbor Freight - Linky
All you need is an air compressor & a quick-connect fitting to use (didn't come with one when I bought it - made for a parts store run in the middle of it all <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />). Real easy to use - just run until you have clear fluid...

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and I only have 120k miles so I too haven't bothered with the rear shoes... Looks like there's a whole lot of life left on them; just cleaned it all up when I was in there (buy a bunch of brake cleaner - spray the crap out of everything).