I always thought that the Yaesu FT-8900r was a bit of a funky radio because 6m and 10m are FM only. Most areas don't have many 10m or 6m FM repeaters to make use of.
A lot of technicians start out on 2 meters as there is typically a lot of activity. Finding out about out the repeaters in your area is an excellent suggestion to be sure. When choosing a radio, it helps if you can play with a few before buying. If there isn't a dealer in your area, find your local ham radio club and get some guys to show you their rigs. The reason for this is because some radios are more intuitive to certain people than others are. Everybody's preferences are a bit different.
To generalize, most technicians start out with some type of 2m/440 rig. Try to find something that is not that old. Used is OK, but be careful about buying something that is very outdated. New stuff is great if your budget allows, and you get a warranty.
Hope that helps.