WordPress MU

I currently have 6 wordpress blogs. Updating the plugins and configuring 6 different blogs has become very time-comsuming.

I was advised to install wordpress.mu but have a few questions, as Im not sure how wordpress mu's back and front end will work.

My blogs are located in subdirectories as such:
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/assessment
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/boardexam
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/massagetherapy
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/medicalmassage
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/myofascial
http://www.mmti.org/podcasts/sportsmassage

They each have their own theme and configuration.
Would it be easy for me to keep them in the same directories and maintain the same theme for each after MU installation?

Can I place Mu into a "www.mmti.org/podcasts/" directory and keep the 6 blogs in their original subdirectories?

Would I lose any SEO benefit that I may have attained at this point?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Gene

Install WPMU into a "www.mmti.org/podcasts/" directory , choose the subfolder option on install , and you'll get the exact same setup you have.

Each blog can have the same themes they are using now. Plugins will have to be tested.

As long as you set up the permalinks the same as you have now, SEO will stay the same.

What you are saying makes some sense to me.
I was curious, would there be any advantage to using Wordpress MU to achieve the same result?

Re: advantages/disadvantages?

Also, I would like to eventually restrict access to some categories using a membership plugin.

Thanks,
Gene

Well, WPMU is sightly harder to use than regular WP. Since you'll be using the subfolder setup, you'll have a bit less server hassles.

The membership plugin you want to use may require tweaks, not sure.