Can't open or import a model, creature, characters or textures in Cinema 4D Lite?

I was so excited to find out that Cinema 4D Lite was included with After Effects.  I saw at least a couple of YouTube tutorials where people imported 3D characters and linked them to AE using Cinema 4D.  I was so excited to start making a movie.  I went out an purchased a bunch of dinosaurs and space aliens, and even downlosded some surface textures, thinking I could easily open them in Cinema 4D Lite and start making movies in a flash, right, like it looks so easy on YouTube.  After hours of tutorials and weeks of practice, I can't do anything buy push a cube around a grid.  Forget opening any kind of dinosaur or space alien model.  I can't even figure out how to import textures into Cinema 4D Lite.  I can make a 3D cube in AE.  In fact, I can even make 3D shapes with texture and color in AE.  So, what't the point to having Cinema 4D Lite?  And as far as those people I've been watching on YouTube, some of them are "opening files," others are "dragging and dropping files," and others are starting in AE, exporting from AE, and then puttiong AE into Cinema 4D?  It's rediculous.  The ones who say "open file," there doesn't seem to be an "open file" option in my version of Cinema 4D Lite?  When I was able to "drag and drop," part of a texture file, it dropped it right on top of the opbject in the scene.  Another time, it opened it up in a different window?  I tried opening another file, and it wasn't compatable.  I'm about to just make my own rubber hand puppets and forget about it.  Like I said, I can make 3D shapes and import textures directly in AE.  Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with Cinema 4D Lite?  (Basically, I was trying to avoid 3rd Party plugins.  My past experience with plugins has NOT been very positive.  Most 3rd Party Plugins are NOT compatable with my hardware, drivers or graphics card, and I'm sick and tired of always having to spend more money.)