As a relatively new diver (certified last summer), I can relay my experiences...
We used the LDS equipment to learn on and then checkout with, simply due to the fact it is what they taught to and we didn't have enough knowledge to know what we'd want at that point.
Right after certifying and knowing the diving bug was real, I picked up a Suunto Vyper Novo and the wife a Suunto D6i, both lightly used. I'll agree with everyone here that wrist-mounted is the way to go now having dove both a console and a wrist computer. Just much easier to manage and keeps a hand free during e.g. decents/ascents. I knew I was eventually going to want AI, so made sure I was good for that. Lastly, being a bit of an 'ol fuddy-duddy, I read the Suuntos have a more conservative model which I heard in my head as "safer".
Fast forward to current day, and I'm joseing for either a Perdix AI or Teric. Reason being - user changable battery / rechargable. Given my wife's computer needed a new battery and I now know that could be every two or so years, I don't want to deal with that hassle again. Plus, much clearer now to me that the Shearwaters are the way to go both from a functionality perspective (they do it all), the build quality (virtual tanks), and customer service (touted here as the best of the best).
Soo....wanna buy a barely used Vyper Novo? J/K....sorta.
Good luck with the certification and hope to cross paths with you under the sea!