My SQL knowledge is fairly basic.  I am an interactive designer, not a strict low-level coder, so I am looking for solutions that do not require cryptic or highly detailed SQL, when I want to access a DB system.
If you want to access the WP MySQL database tables, you can of course include the ‘wp-db.php’ [...]

I searched the web for around 30 minutes looking for a script that allowed me to use MCrypt with PHP and actually see the decoded string.
Check out this very thorough (well-written and commented) script. Works like a charm.