O/A or Mig for first welder?

>
> I'm not sure why I picked MIG as the first welder I would buy. Might
> have been the illusion that I could get into it for $100 and move up
> from there. [I'm over that.]
>
> I've looked into going to classes, which I'm sure would be the best
> option if I could do it. But I have a bit of a disability that only
> allows me a few hours a day of activity. If I don't overdo those I
> get several more hours of 'sit-down' time where I can read and learn.
> So I decided to teach myself with the help of the internet and a pile
> of books.
>
> Well- a few months later, I learned a little about MIG- decided on a
> Lincoln/Miller 140amp setup. . . . found some forums to read. . .
> bought a couple books. . .and started shopping for a good price-
>
> Noted an offhand comment on one forum where a newbie was showing off
> his new MIG setup and an 'oldie' said 'now you need to get some O/A
> torches'.
>
> The first book I'm reading is Finch's "Welder's Handbook". He makes
> no bones about it. in his opinion everyone who wants to weld should
> start out with O/A. His feeling is that it helps you understand the
> process because you are more in touch with the puddle.
>
> So now as I look at O/A setups and think I could get a decent setup
> for about the same $550-600 as I'm getting ready to spend on MIG, I
> wonder if that isn't the way to go.
>
> O/A has the advantage of being a cutting tool, and 'hot wrench', as
> well as heating metals to be formed. [and I just started reading
> Finch's chapter on brazing and soldering-- is O/A more flexible in the
> 'what you can join' department?]
>
> MIG has the [apparent] advantage of being easy to learn. Since
> I'm in this as much for 'the journey' as anything else, a steeper
> learning curve is fine.
>
> I'm leaning towards O/A now. Any pushes in one direction or the
> other?
>
> Jim
> [For the googlers and to show off my spell checker; oxy-acetylene,
> acetylene ]
> Thanks,
> Jim