Precise, carefully handcrafted, finely tuned, extremely accurate ammunition... single stage is the way to go.

Cheaper, bulk, adequate, functionally accurate ammunition... progressive is the way to go.

I do both on a Rock Chucker and have done so for a long time.

AB is more likely correct in projecting that many reloaders end up with both over time.

Neither is a waste of money as far as getting one before the other as they both are application specific in my opinion. The single stage first route lets one get firmly acquainted to the processes of ammunition manufacturing.

If I could ONLY get one, I'd get a single stage.