Jehu,  I jumped to the end to post and didn't read em all, this may have been said.

Eventually, you may develop a very discriminating taste for certain features and abilities.  For now, there are only a few things that will be immediate turn on's/off's.

Choose a longbow / recurve as your mind tells you.  They are both great, both shoot well, but they are different critters.  What you WANT weighs heavily here.

The handle, or grip, is gonna eventually make or break your decision to like or dislike.  I think it is a wise choice to slow down, hit a few shoots, and ask to touch.  Fine a style of handle grip that feels good to you.

Things like... is it straight, deeply indexed, is it narrow and skinny, or is it big and fat.

Those are the things that will make you like it or not first.  Later, as you get better, maybe other features will grow in importance.

I suggest you don't by a P. O. S. just because it is affordable.  Save up some money, watch the "for sales" and be ready to pounce so you can get a little bit better bow.  You do not need a top line bow just yet.

Later
ChuckC