How to best import existing audio files into iTunes?

Hello,
In sum, my question is: What is the difference between adding music to iTunes Library by the following methods:
Placing the audio files in the 'Automatically Add to iTunes' Folder;
Dragging the files from my hard drive to the Source Pane in iTunes; or
Using the File > Add Folder to Library dialogue?
Here are the particulars of my situation:
I have over 3,000 music files, and I would like to know the best way to get them into iTunes. From a lynda.com training video about using iTunes, I learned that there is a folder called "Automatically Add to iTunes", which is monitored by iTunes for new files to import into the iTunes library. However, I would like to know if this is the *best* way to do this. For example, can I just *move* my 3,000 music files into this 'Automatically Add to iTunes' folder and then let iTunes do its thing?
Will iTunes *move* the files that it is able to manage OUT of this folder and into one of its managed folders, such that there would be no duplicate file left behind? Is it correct in saying that the files that are left in this folder that were not able to be handled by iTunes and must be handled differently before they can be imported into iTunes? Or is there just an all around different, and better, way to get these music files into iTunes?
Thanks for your advice and opinions!
~Antonio

Hello tt2,
I have given this a lot of thought and attention over the last few days. As well, I appreciate very much your input and offers of help.
The major 'problem' that I have is that the files are most definitely not consistently named. For example, they include the likes of the following:
07 - Song Name - Song Artist.mp3
01 - Song Artist_Song Name.wma
Song Name [Song Artist].aac
And these are only examples, based on my trying to get across how variant the names are. The actual file names are far more wildly various than even these, seemingly consistent file names.
So, this is what I was thinking of doing, per your suggestion:
An alternative aproach would be to use something like MediaMonkey (has advanced filename/path to tag tools) or MusicBrainz Picard (attempts to match audio fingerprints) to update the tags before the files get introduced to iTunes.
Then...
1. Move the files into the 'Automatically Add to iTunes' folder, then let iTunes have a go at getting them in to iTunes.
2. Using either Tuneup or MusicBrainz Picard (Any comment on which is better?) to cleanup the file names (again) properly; and
3. Then using your script to force iTunes to update itself, based on any new id3 data.
Does this sound like madness? Or is it a good solution for this application? I am very grateful for your, or any other, input.
Take good care,
~Antonio

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