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I was just wondering... are there people here who actually play correspondence chess in real life, with the letters and the stamps?
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Yes. I played using post cards for years before switching to server play as a matter of convenience. A few of my opponents were in prison and did not have access to the Internet so had no other option. Also, most of the top CC players prefer post card play. Former US CC Champion Ed Duliba advised CC players to avoid server play because he believes such players are the dregs of the chess world owing to the fact one often runs into players flaming and insulting opponents on servers. I can agree to an extent. In 50 years of using post cards I was never insulted or cussed out on a post card. When people know your real name and address they tend to be nicer. Some server players are the equivalent of people who write on bathroom walls.
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I still haven't had much trouble with players around here just yet. Haven't been here long though. 
As for the rest, I don't really know how real CC works... say, how much does it cost to participate in a tournament (if there's such a thing) ?
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The official US CC organization I belong to is also the US ICCF rep. Membership costs $25 a year and tournament EF's are about $6-10. Play is pretty much like here except you mail post cards back and forth with your opponent.
They offer limited server play but it is via e-mail, not with an interface like here. So you must keep track of time used for each move and the cumulative time for the game. You also have to keep an accurate move record. Most players use some type of free software (not equipped with an engine) that does this. In the old days we used postal chess albums - small books holding 6 games that were like mini-demo boards.
Many events have a preliminary round of 7 players then a semi-final and final. You usually don't pay additional EF's if you qualify for the next round. Some events offer (very) small cash prizes.
For example 5-6 years ago I played in the club championship using post cards and qualified for the finals. The whole event took a little over 3 years. I think I finished in about 8th place. Prize money = $0.
Play is mostly tournaments. 4 players with two games at a time against each opponent, but most are 7-man events with one game against each opponent.
They do offer membership to Canadians. I'm not sure about CC organizations in Canada, but there must be one.
I hope this answers your questions.
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My next question might be stupid, but I don't know so I'll ask it: what is a one-year membership for if tournaments last for many years (like you'd expect) ?
Is it that you need to be a member to start a tournament, however long it might last? (In which case, I'm assuming you need to be a member the first year, but need not to renew in order to continue playing in the tournament after the first year, correct?)
Thanks for your time by the way 
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To play corr chess at the old way on cards take time my friends. Not to be on hurry..I played for example on tournament ICCF thematic Kingsgambit..it started 1995 and ended 2005 with my last game. it was actually in 3 stages. Now is very expencive to play that way from Iceland because stamps are always getting on more price. I am in control of Icelandic corr federation and no one play here on old post way anymore.
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