Sounds great
Pro's and Con's are well covered here, I have done groups of mates, groups of couples and two-up with just me and the Mrs, but never an organised trip.
Even solo I would probably go it alone for several reasons, the first one being cost as a commercial trip adds a lot of extra dosh, would rather have 12 days solo than 7 days being herded, but if money no object.... I would probably still go alone.
I can see three benefits to the commercial tour:
* You have "Buddies" provided (although you may not like them)
* They have done all your route planning and booked hotels
* They will have backup and nanny you around like school kids on a field trip.
Meeting people to chat to is easy if your a fairly outgoing person, I have met some of my best friends touring around.
Route planning and Hotel booking is part of the trip for me, keeps me going through the winter, fiding great routes is easy enough with the wonders of the internet, maybe 20 years ago the organised trip may have had a bigger advantage on route knowledge, but now you can ask here about almost anywhere in the world and get some great recommendations.
Riding abroad is not difficult, the rules are very similar (and easy to find online information - not that I really bother much) your motorcycle controls all work exactly the same when you come out the tunnel / off the ferry.
If your nervous about not having a backup truck / interpretor etc then an organised tour is probably ideal, but I am happy to get along with a few words of French / Italian / German (Hello / Please / Thank You / Beer is all you really need)
Sat Navs have removed all navigation woes, and smartphones can take care of translation in the rare cases you cannot communicate (Although I have never needed more than a phrase book)
I have come across some tours which involve a line of bikes going along at about the pace of a group of riders on a CBT, in fact one group I came across in the Black Forest I originally thought was a German Motorcycle training group, until I got closer and saw the lead / tail riders had the tour company on their jackets.
I know many offer some flexibility, but your still basically told when to wake up, when to brush your teeth, when to set off, when and where to stop, how long to stop for etc.
I think you have made a great decision, although just getting off this rock for the first time is fantastic whichever way you do it, come back when you have abetter idea of the locations your passing through / stopping at / want to see and I am sure you will get some great road and hotel recomendations
My first bit of advice would be don't get too hung up on the TDF routes, some are great and others are pants so unless Alp d'Huez is a mecca for you I can recommend some much better passes.
Secondly the Alps is huge (Larger than the entire UK and covered with about 400 passes, of which 350 probably beat any UK stretch of road) I think the Pyrenees is about the size of England and you have other bits in between.
The scope of your trip could take 4-6 months of non stop riding to take in just the "best roads" with minimal sight seeing so you will need to pick carefully and try not to cram too much in.
) - maybe it's time to trade yours in 
