[steveyam]

I have to say, this thread has thrown up some of the best, most reasoned advice that I have seen on the forum. It's all there.

For my part - and I don't come from a classical guitar background although I did lessons for a few months - I would say go for a steel strung folk guitar over a nylon strung classical. If you get into strumming chords of popular songs - as is a great way of learning - they're going to sound much better on a steel strung folk guitar. Nylon strings are not so good for strumming, whereas you can pluck single notes on steel strings. I'm saying that it will be more versatile - depending on what you do - obviously.