The Kennedy RDA (clone -- not sure which manufacturer but
reviews should point you in the right direction) is really awesome for both flavor and clouds, but it can be a bit tricky to build on for a first-timer. To be honest though, all RDA's have their own little building quirks that you learn to work around, whether it's a smaller deck versus a larger one, or strangely placed airflow holes. It's a learning experience, albeit a fun one.
The Patriot is tried and true for reliability, and the clones are dirt cheap. You could also go with an iGo-L (single coil only) or an iGo-W if you wanted to start off super-simple.
My personal favorite RDA is a Doge. Right now I'm using a bit of a frankenstein of the different variations (V1/V2/etc).. "IT'S ALIVE!!" but its been a perfect RDA for me. Nice big deck, plenty of variability in the airflow.. Good stuff. Plenty of cheap options out there in the 20-40$ price range.