Not hopeless at all... I mean there are obviously a ton of web seminars all done in flash... Actually even if you had a choice of format I would think Flash Video would be the way to go. I think what you had incorrect was moving the video into a SWF. You don't wanna bring the video into the flash IDE.
Your process would be something like this. Edit your clips in final cut, export to quick time. Compress the clips to FLV.
Put the FLV's up on the web. Then write, or download a Flash Video Player. There are like a bagillion. I just did a quick search for "free flv player" I have used this one before
http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=JW_FLV_Player
Should be as simple as setting up a play list for all the clips you made.
FLV will progressivly play... just how they work.
hope this helps
-ross
