LOL--in rare cases, someone will make fun of you for not being an expert . . . which leads to the question: if one is an expert already, why would he ask the question?
It is very interesting that I went through the same process and had the same questions about a month ago. I have to give up golf this year due to a back injury and need another hobby to take up my time. The lesson I learned is that knowing why you want a pistol will help you pick out the right one for you.