I've been playing guitar for almost a year and a half now and I still don't know how to use a pick. I strum very hard and I'm afraid that my guitar strings would break from the pick. Would this be detrimental to my playing in any way? Wouldn't I advance in learning guitar if I didn't know how to use one?
To get you in perspective on my playing skill, I could play "If" by Bread (by plucking), "Norwegian Wood" and "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles, and the intro of "Stairway To Heaven" and "Dust In The Wind"(the reason I only play the intro in the former I'm still unfamiliar with the song and the latter I lost the tabs).
Am I learning too slowly? Would knowing how to use a pick affect my playing skills?
Can a guitarist even make do without using a pick?