Hmmm i somehow think the 18-200mm is slowly being a little overated as a starter lens. The standard kit lens 18-70 is good enough to star out as a "learning lens" Unless you find the need to zoom in a whole lot more most of the time. Why dun you just go for the ceaper option first and start with the kit lens, then in future if you require the extra lenght. can get the 70-200 or sth?
Just my two cents worth.