I think you are right about that[:)]there are also many other things you can learn to do while lucid, such as leave the dream and travel to astral planes,change dreams,ask guides (seen or unseen) for advice about anything,etc...
It IS possible to project out of body from a lucid dream. Many people have done it. I have managed to project from a lucid dream several times. The lucid dream state of consciousness may well be the perfect pre-projection state (total physical relaxation and sleep paralysis with clear consciousness).
It does require effort to project OBE out of a lucid dream because it does not happen every time. Just a week ago I had 2 LDs in one night. Both LDs were quickly turned into flying LDs. But I never made an effort to project.
AaarrrrGGGhhh [?][?] [|)][:(!]
I recently had a very bizarre experience within a dream.
During the dream, I somehow became lucid and then thought of the Monroe technique and did it within the dream itself, trying to think about going out of the body. I then felt my whole body vibrate furiously within the dream itself and I was no longer in the dream, but standing outside looking at the balcone. It was like an eerie twilight, probably because the sun was starting to come up and it was twilight outside.
I wasn't sure what was going on, but then I began to realize and I saw this dark figure (like a shadow figure) that scared me to death.. and woke up instantly.
I'm now wondering if lucid dreaming really is a fast way to have an OOBE.. if you somehow become lucid enough to access your conscious desire to have an OOBE and recall techniques you have read about (for me.. Monroe's point). If you can become lucid in a dream, I think you could will yourself to have an OOBE consciously and you would already be in that optimal state (no relaxation or pre-meditative exercises required). Hmm :)