Chess960 as a training tool?

I've not played enough to get an ELO rating, but lets just say that the 800 this site started me out with is likely a big overestimate. I've gone through some of the training on Lichess, watched a few videos on beginner chess, and gazed in dismay at the huge library of opening knowledge stored.

Would Chess960 help me out at with "real" chess? Could it help me develop a more instinctual understanding of chess, or is it just a curiosity?

Of course you will get better at chess if you play 960, but it won't improve you as fast as regular chess would. If you're training for a better bench press in the gym, the best way to do so is by performing the bench press. Other exercises like chest flies will also help you get there, but to get better at something the best way is to do exactly that thing. Also I think the lower your rating, the less helpful 960 will be as it may reinforce bad habits.

Very sensible. Thank you, I will continue in normal chess for a while .