With all due respect to BB and DR...
1) Being a newbie, it's sometimes hard to trust your ears until you are confident that you're hearing what everyone else is. You have to learn any monitors, so why not learn on ones that are considered acceptable by those who should know. Think of it in terms of microphones. How many newbies that have never experienced any condensor mic have been thouroughly impressed with the likes of an NT-1 , C-1000, or any cheap MXL or Nady, etc. Then, after they gain more experience, they begin to realize how harsh is is in comparison, and quickly outgrow it. That's not something you want to do with monitors, as then you will have to 'unlearn' them.
2) Yes, it's about what you like, not what someone else tells you that you should like, but, back to the mic analogy, while you may want to buy a vocal mic based on how it makes your voice sound, that's not how you want to select monitors. Yes, you want something that's not displeasing to the ear, but you want accuracy first and foremost. You don't buy monitors because ' these things really kick out the bass!' . You want something that's not hyped. That's what differentiates monitors from home stereo speakers.
3) This post really doesn't belong in this forum, and I apologize for continuing it.
4) I have the Tannoy Reveals (unpowered). About $325-350. I think they're swell. Just my totally uninformed opinion. If I could afford them, I'd have the Mackie 824's, if that tells you anything about my tastes.