Thanks, racehorse. At least I know I'm not crazy--the industry is. That will help me better navigate the nonsense.
Well Scott, there are some very simple decisions to make that "help" eliminate options.
First, box shaped or tube shaped. That is the most basic thing that people either like or dislike.
So, once decided, you can eliminate about 50% of the entire line of products out there.
Then, lots of vapor and warmth/heat, fog up an entire room with every exhale..... or a little cooler conservative vape, plenty of clouds but not someting that would obliterate the person standing next to you. (I'm the latter). A
nd then mouth to lung or direct lung hits. (I am former).
Just those few things will put you on or off an equipment decision.
Oh, then weight and size. That is a biggie, esp. for me, since I am female. I just happen not to like carrying anyting heavy or ostentatious.
So write down your answers to these simpler things then you will know.
The problem with people asking for advice when they are new........nobody really takes them thru a LOGICAL FLOW CHART scenario. they just suggest "what they like". Which is helpful, but doesn't really address the needs and preferences of the person they are giving advice to. And in their defense, they cannot know, since the newbie asking doesn't know what they want, either.
So a flowchart just with these 6 or so questions solves a lot of the equation.
I might even make up that flowchart, come to think of it.