Which one would you buy?
Arduino Duemilanove is my choice
I'm saying that if the only experience people can tell me is to buy one then that isn't making other people experience it.
beware we are all trying to con you into buying one. Once you buy, we all get our money and laughs... yay! another one goes down! lol 
on a serious note - its the simplest thing out there for you to get started with!
should you think too simple is bad for a start then you need to check the FEZ domino