Configuring Lync Public IM Connectivity on Office365: But Can I Really Use It?

I use Office365 on an E1 plan to run my massive business of one. With that plan, I get Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync. It’s a fantastic deal for about $10 a month and works great for me. I’ve sort of ignored the Lync component since there are so many other (somewhat better) options out there….