I went thru similar start up in Nov last year and having more disposable income now than forty five years ago I bought a bunch of stuff. Some I realize now I may never use. I also went with Vallejo paints and realized did not like them and tossed a bunch. Now I am all in with Tamiya paints for air brushing. I am no expert air brusher but getting better. I first got a Paache Talon TG-3. I think $120.  I would say this is mid range. Dual action. It has multiple needle sizes. I was not happy with it. Harder to find parts and clogged with tip-dry easily. But that may have been the Vallejo paints though because that is big issue with them. The trigger also kept sticking. Tossed it. Next tried cheapo mastercraft ones, like $50 each. One was side feed, crap, one trigger type, crap.  Finally bought both an Iwata Eclipse CR (.5mm) and CR3 (.3mm).  Both were $120 I believe. Have been very happy with them.