The fundamental question is, you are a newbie to photography. The only way for you to improve your skills is to take more photos. Take more photos challenges your eyes to look out for photographic details and composition, lighting conditions etc. Previously before the digital era, countless of photographic students spents time and money taking photos and developing sildes, films etc.
You can't have your cake and eat it. If you want to improve your photography skills, take more photos. And from there:- If you are using film, be prepared to spend tons of money on films and developing. If you want to save money on consumeables, then go digital. Both ways lead to the same purpose.
To go film or digital is very individual. Some newbie agued that they buy film camera first to practise photogrpahy before upgrading to digital. After awhile, they felt that they want a digital camera because it look more fashionable to be seem with one. Also they started to be influenced by peer pressure on having digital cameras and its advantages. Then they sold off their film camera and "upgrade" to digital camera. In the end, they are still as lousy in photography as when they first started out.
Some guys I know are merely equipment collectors. Absolutely no substances but made lots hell of noise to gain attention in focums etc. They boosted about big expensive equipments, but when it comes to photography, it totally sucks big time.
Cameras, especially digital, are fast becoming a fashion statements. It's trendy to be seem with one. For most, the smaller the better, as with their handphone. For most photographer or "think he's a photographer just because he owned a camera", the higher ranges the better. Then there's the minority photographers are the real pros ones.
Anyway my point is, what is a camera meant to you? See this world through a viewfinder or LCD screen? Or to be seem as a hippy yuppy? Or wat?