For the record, I played Paintball for eight years. Including two "professional years" meaning we played AGAINST pro's in the tourneys and had some small sponsors, we didnt make a living doing it tho. Ive also played a ton of air soft and I can honestly say I have more BB scars from playing air soft than I do from playing P-ball. Yes P-ball usually hurts more, but you get tagged right in airsoft and it'll bleed a lot and scar! As for a great started gun, go with a tippy 98 custom. then deck it out!
-Jake