Is there any kind of rational approach to choosing software to run a Joe's 2006 or 4x4 hybrid machine?

The choices are overwhelming..... every kind of animal... Rhino, Dolphin, etc. Mach (can you really cut at the speed of sound?), Sheet, Bob,Desk,Turbo etc. etc. etc.

I see lots of references around here... to everybody's favorites, but how does somebody who has never cut anything make a reasonable first choice?
Obviously, a lot of these are specialized, for different types of cutting.... but what is a good, inexpensive choice to just drive the steppers around, and get started making chips?

-Taylor