Public Peering

Due to general dissatisfaction with our current IP providers and few options in our rural area, I started looking at alternatives. I am a public peering noob but DE-CIX has caught my eye as they offer peering with a number of our top ASNs (about 70% of our traffic). We could theoretically bring an ELine into NYC to connect. I am unclear on the details of the connection though.

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When you connect do you maintain a single BGP session with DE-CIX only, or do you setup individual sessions with each ASN you peer with? They imply that you're able to connect to networks that would otherwise be restricted. For example CentryLink is on their peering list, but the peering policy is "no". So, CenturyLink is connected at DE-CIX not peering with anyone, or their general policy is no peering, but DE-CIX is getting you around that? Similarly, does peering with Amazon or Microsoft get around setting up and paying for ExpressRoute or Direct Connect?

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Is anyone here using DE-CIX that's not with an ISP? Anyone know what it costs to connect? It seems too good to be true, and their connected peers list suggests that maybe it is and maybe it makes sense for ISPs only.

Thanks for any info!