I started with a nano quad, then I bought a UDI RC quad for about 120 bucks. It has a small video camera and black foam rings around the props. I taught myself to fly with this. No GPS so it is harder to fly but a very good learning tool. And the camera gave me a taste of areal video. No FPV but still fun. If you ever get into trouble with your Phantom and lose GPS you will need to fly in ATTI mode. Better to learn this on a 120 dollar quad than a 1200 dollar quad.
And yes the hardest part is learning how to control it backwards, nose in. HL and CL kind of takes this away but it is still good to know how. The Phantom is about 10X easier to fly than a non GPS quad, but a little more nerve racking because of fly aways, compass and GPS issues. I never got the UDI quad out to 1200 feet and lost sight of it, like I have with the Phantom. A heart stopping moment the first time it happens.