Some of the best advice I have heard on choosing transmitters is to see how they feel in your hands - cause no matter how neat it looks, if the tension on the sticks bugs the heck out of you and isn't adjustable, then you aren't going to be happy. If you don't have other flyers nearby or a local hobby store, try finding a flying event in your region and ask people there what they like about their transmitter. Guaranteed you'll get a lot of good info as well as an opportunity to see how a bunch of different models feel.
This right here was a HUGE reason I went with Spektrum over Taranis. The Taranis had a 3 way switch on the left side of the radio that felt INCREDIBLY awkward to flip. The Spektrum had a 3 way switch in nearly the same position, but it felt more comfortable to flip it, and I could actually feel the 3 different positions, where the Taranis felt like it was 2 positions - either I'd skip the middle position, or I'd hit it right and it would only go from one end to the middle and stay there. Other people I've met since I started in the hobby have absolutely loved it and have no problem, but for me, it was a no-go, ergonomically.
@The Hangar - I'd agree with the DX6e over the Dx6i - more models on it. Only disadvantages on it over the DX6 is that the Dx6 has voice alerts (it'll speak out your time left, saying, "One Minute remaining" or do a countdown from 10 to 1 when you're at that point on the battery life) versus using alarms to alert you, and the Dx6 uses diversity antennas, whereas the Dx6e does not, so you get a better signal connection from the transmitter to the receiver and less of a chance of failsafe. But, it's also more expensive than the Dx6e (the Dx6i will probably be cheaper, but it's discontinued, so most of the ones out there on the market are going to be used transmitters). Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily - these things are things YOU need to decide if you can live with. I personally really like the Spektrums because of their simplicity in setup, and that I don't generally have to switch out a receiver if I go buy a bind n' fly plane like the Apprentice or the Timber; however, that's what works for ME and what I want. I mean, I'd LOVE to build up a Gee Bee in balsa, but I'm having a heck of a time finding plans or a kit to do that with. I can, however, buy a Horizon Hobbies UMX version of it with their receiver built in, so, Spektrum it is!
LOL