I went a slightly different path, when I got my first airbrush.
I wanted to stay within my budget, for a price I thought reasonable. But I also avoid buying things of lower quality that just have to be replaced. So I bought a used brush, a Paasche VL, which I still have. I picked it up at a flea market, for forty bucks, the full kit in its original box. That was around 25 years ago, and it was already at least 25 years old at the time. I was happy with my purchase. It's a relatively simple brush, so it was good to use to practice. And it's rugged and easy to maintain. It has served me well.
The only complaint I have is not with the brand and model, but with the design generally. It's a siphon-fed brush; the brush draws paint up from a jar, or from a cup, mounted under the brush. I've found that the cup gets in my way, I can't hold the brush the way I'd like. But like I said, that's just the siphon-feed design. I prefer a gravity-fed design, where the paint source is above the brush. I was fortunate to receive a Neo as a gift from a fellow modeler; its cup is mounted atop the brush, in front of the trigger. It lets me hold the brush as I would a pen or pencil, which is more comfortable to me.
However, that is just my personal preference. I use both brushes, because, as I said, I find the VL a simple and rugged design, and reliable.
That's just my experience and preference. But there's no right or wrong, really, but what you like, what fits your budget, and what you find simplest to use.
