The problem i have with this thread is that the OP asked for advice, and now says "ok, i don't like your advice, but i like the advice my instuctor/shop gave to me" and yet, not being certified or with any experience, the OP, realistically, cannot actually decide which advice is better!
Take the integrated inflator second. You may find, for your sort of diving, in the places, conditions, and frequency with which you dive this is the PERFECT solution. Chances are, if you dive shallower than say 25m, in water clear water, in guided large groups, and look after your gear, in 15 years of diving you'll never have to actually use it!
You may however find that it's a total piece of junk and a complete liability. The actual integrated inflator second hasn't changed, but you and your type of diving have.
So whilst your shop or instructor might recommend A, and people on this forum might recommend B, only future you can actually find out who was "right" (BTW, there are actually very few clear cut RIGHT or WRONG things in diving, with the exception of not holding your breath when ascending and actually turning on your tank before you jump in,pretty much everything else is far far murkier and subjective!)
This is why so many posters are saying "don't buy yet" simply because they
know that you don't know yet, and in fact, can't know yet!
So, with the assumption you've at least tried scuba once (go do a "try dive" In a pool) hell you might hate it, then yes, buy yourself some really good basics, a quality, prefect fitting wetsuit, a good fitting mask, and even some nice fins you like, none of which are really that expensive, even for really nice ones) but for now, hold fire on the more complex bits of kit until you can make a more valid choice. And when you can, which doesn't have to be after 1,000 dives and 20 years, then hell, go mad, bash your credit card to death at your LDS and online, then book some nice expensive diving trips, heck, the industry right now could use your money