Welcome to ECF and the confusion that is early Vaping!
I have a couple of points to make that hopefully will help-
1) For most folks the only locally available e-cigarette stuff is weak and overpriced. A few lucky people have a GOOD vendor within an hour or two of their location, but this is sadly pretty rare. The stuff sold in malls and such usually goes for about $100 and when bought online is more like $40 or $50, tops.
b) Best value for the money is a tricky one, really. The two e-cigs I tried at first (E9 and DSE801) were relatively inexpensive but they also were not powerful enough for me. I use one of the more expensive devices around now, and it was well worth it and I consider them a great value. Actually have two of them. (HEAVY smoker for years.)
III) The devices that I have come to think are the best choice for new people at this point are 510- compatibles:
*For many they meet all their vaping needs
*For those who need MORE than a simple 510 can do- big battery and juice-feeder mods that use 510 parts are common and good
*510s are relatively inexpensive and yet effective
The last point I have is this-
some folks can manage to put down cigarettes immediately.
I think it is more common that a few cigarettes are smoked periodically in the beginning as a person figures out what the need and how to vape and be satisfied
Some of us take a while to get completely off the cigarettes but have GREAT reduction in how many we smoke.