I used an m401 for about 2 months before I made the leap to a bigger battery mod. My recommendation is that you start dipping immediately. If you're going out, or driving somewhere, use carts, but otherwise you'll have a much better experience dipping. It's really pretty much fool proof. I'll give you the cliff notes here.
Grab a clean shotglass, and put 4 or 5 drops of juice in it. Make sure the shotglass is clear, at least until you get a feel for it.
Also, make sure the inner cart, the little plastic piece that holds the filler/juice, is not in the outer cart. I've found that anything from a toothpick to a paperclip, etc, is a good tool for removing the inner cart. Really this is an easy step, so I won't go crazy.
Ok, so the atty is connected to the battery, and you're going to see the bridge (covered in metal mesh) sticking out the end. Hold the battery, and dip just the very end of the bridge into the liquid into the shotglass. Hold it there for maybe 5 or 10 seconds. This is the reason that dipping is such a great method. The bridge will soak up all the juice is needs/wants. You waste nothing, and you'll never flood the atty or end up with juice in your mouth.
Once you've let it soak up the juice, just slap the outer cart back on the atomizer and puff away. You'll get a solid 5 or 6 good pulls before having to repeat. And because you never get too much juice on the atty, or too little, the atty will last for freaking ever. The 401 attys really are tanks. I've still got the one I used almost exclusively for 2 months, and it still works... It's tucked away in my mako tin waiting for the day I need it again.
Like it said, this method, in my opinion, is the way to go. It's great vapor, taste, throat hit, and it extends the life of the atty nearly indefinitely. Only reason I switched is that I was getting sick of the battery life on the 401 and decided to switch to something a bit... bigger. And most of the mods make it a lot easier to use 510s, or 801, etc.
Anyway, the 401 is a great choice, start dipping now and the atty will last you forever.
Bill
Great suggestion, I never tried dipping before but.. wow it rocks! I can take like... 8 sometimes 10 excellent puffs dipping with my M401 and yes, your reasoning makes sense to me, getting the right amount of juiceit should last longer than using carts or even dripping