Hey Robyn, thanks for your post. It's nice to hear another person's perspective on preferences regarding style guides to formatting. Unlike you, I was used to APA, until the last couple of courses in my BA. I got to learn how to do Chicago style, and yes, that was a daunting transition for sure. But, like everything, it's pretty cool once you get the hang of it.
You are right about the APA and not needing the page number, only the date and last name. However, if you are directly quoting, then of course there needs to be a page number.

You know, one thing that really blew me away today, was the fact that if you are writing a reference in MLA, and there is more than one author, you write the last name of the author, and then the first, and then vice-versa for the second author. That's just crazy to me lol
Anyways, take care.
James Yeats