I can relate with you Mira, even though I don't speak Japanese that well
ほど is a word I have learned when I was studying the way of comparing things.
より and ほど both assume a translation roughly as "than". The difference is between the way you compare: より shows a higher degree and ほど a lower degree.
Examples:
あの時計の方がこの時計よりもっと高いです。
あの時計はこの時計ほど高くないです。
In the first case you read it as "that watch is more expensive that this watch", while in the second case I would read it as "that watch is not so expensive like this watch".
But as I said I pretty much relate to you, because I find ほど in many situations where it seems to be going beyond the comparative meaning...and haven't figure out yet what meaning to give thus I never understand the phrases with ほど LOL (and yes, it is used alot)