I'm with you on all points there, dee. This is the best run site there is, with some really smashing people. I would recommend it to anyone just starting out.
Later when they have confidence they might try less well run sites, but this is the place to be.
I used to say start with Genes, but that's changed....and you have to pay...Roots is efficient, friendly and FREE.
In a recient survey done by another site, I was asked how good I thought they were, I said fairly good, how much I trusted them...not much.
I trust Roots and the RootsChatters.