Enamels and acrylic lacquers are really cool. but they require proper venting for the fumes longer dry times than water based acrylics (actually, that is true of enamels.. I am not so sure about acrylic lacquers).
my primary reason for using water based acrylics is that I don't have proper venting for anything else. I so use some enamel panel line washes (the tamyia ones are great).
I also like clay based washes. I use this stuff: https://www.florymodels.org/washes which you can buy here if you are in the US (no affiliation) https://www.highaltitudehobbies.com/flory-models-products-1
My story is pretty similar. I decided to pick up this hobby during the pandemic. I had a friendly local model shop that would sent me inventory lists, advice, and let me pick up stuff at the door before they reopened.