Mark, Don't be so modest. It's those ten years that really matter. I sometimes spend hours trying to figure out the answer to a question that may be a simple "yes" or "no." It's not always the answer, it's how you got there.

As far as the OP's question, if you are a beginner, nothing beats a canister stove. Yes, they weigh more than Esbits or alcohol stoves made from soda cans, but they have big advantages-easy to use, simmer to full blast, rarely break, pretty cheap to run and you can turn them off any time you want.