Welcome Aboard, AROC!!!! I think your post was pretty much spot on - almost exactly where I was when I first started. I have the SOSF but instead of a PAM 111 my first rep was a 177H from Josh. One that seems to have gotten rave reviews lately is the SINN series. Not as well known as the Breitling or the Pam but I wish it was around when I started - I think I would have gotten the SINN U2 instead of the Steelfish.

Again, welcome to the community and enjoy Repgeek. There is a lot of great knowledge here.