@Audiophobe,
The gmail account is to setup all your services since theres a whole google ecosystem. Trust me youll want to set up a gmail account anyhow since there are so many benefits and youll need it for the other google stuff such as google voice, google listen, and much much more.
As far as the aol email it should be no problem you can setup pop email via one of the email applications which will allow you to check your aol email.