early rook, bad or good?

Ok, as black I want you to tell me what could be the strategy, because the white knight was a nightmare for my rook/queen, and I lost my mind... and the game

 mainly my question is after the move 17

White for choice, and here's why:

1. White has an extra pawn

2. I don't like the Rook on e6... white may gain a tempo

3 The black King is not so secure, the dark squared bishop is absent leaving "holes"

4 White has the c-file, and will probably post his rooks on c1 and d1 preparing a queenside attack. The attack will start with d5.

The above "analyses" are synthetic, but the more I look the more I think white is quite a bit better. Black should struggle against proficient opposition.

you are right, White owns the center,  and he make it just pushin pawns.

benws, the answer is

34. .. Rxh4  35. Kg2 Rxh1 36.Rxh1 and Im afraid with that white rook, my big problem was to develop my bad b6-rook

thank you so much guys, only the last comment:

Loomis, 37. ..  Rxb2+ was my salvation and was something i was waiting for, but I lost focus  :)    see you later!

b/c he played G6 his rook sucks there if the board was like this it would be in a good spot.