With the money you are willing to spend, you will be able to get a very nice "factory" bow, a Bear or Martin. Either one is going to give you a lot of shooting for years to come. Plus there are a lot of bows out there from very reputable bowyers that you can pick up for that money.

Personally, I like recurves. They are centershot, so paradox plays less of a role in shooting accurately. They tend to be shorter and more maneuverable. They tend to be a little faster and their limbs store more energy. You will note that none of those statements are absolutes, other than my liking them.

That said,I agree with the other posters. Shoot as many different bows as you can then buy the one you shoot best and feel the most confidence in. Because when everything is said and done the name of the archery game is confidence.