Ya know, under certain circumstances traditional equipment is easier than using a compound bow. Example is having to take a very quick shot. Ever attend a Saunder's speed round shoot? More times than not a good recurve shooter would win because he was able to get off shots quicker than the archer shooting a compound bow. Its true. My twist to this saga and I am sticking to it!

By the way in answer to the original poster's question I stand by my earlier post urging him to start with a recurve, simply because I believe in starting out with the fundamentals and progressing from there if he so wishes. In fact I love recurves as well as compounds, and in this modern world there is a place for both to be recognized as archery equipment and revered as archery hunting.