(Probably a lot of this has already been said,)
I think there is value in starting at the bottom and working your way up in learning. I would NOT recommend that rookies start with an all-out progressive setup. I think everyone should learn the processes and quirks of each part of the process separately so that they have a knowledge of where to look when you have problems.
I never tried the hammer press thing. I am vaguely aware of it. I suppose it works, it's been around a while. But I can't see myself doing say, ladder tests for precision rifle rounds with it. I guess it is something that might be good to keep around for a survival situation, but if you know how to use it correctly, you probably have already upgraded to something more practical. For mobility, I could easily use my hand-press kit.
I inherited a single-stage press my dad never got around to learning. Probably someone in here suggested to me getting a Lee hand press for some of the processes that don't require a lot of precision. So I got one, it was like $32, and I probably sized/decapped a bajillion pistol cases with it. I still have my juvenile range slaves do that too. I figured, I can use down time to get easy repetitive processes done. Later I got a Lee Auto-Lock Breech progressive setup. It works, but it has its quirks. Most of the resistance in the up and down strokes comes from the sizing/decapping stage. So, I still have my boys do it separately on the hand press. (I know, you get what you pay for, I will eventually upgrade. But it's still good learning.)
Another thing the hand press is good for, is I can keep a mobile handloading kit, and do load quirks at the range on the spot. I can bring prepped cases, a powder measure and scale, and seat bullets one or five at a time, and see the results. Something I would NOT use it for, is sizing large rifle cases. Technically I suppose it CAN do it, but......try sizing a hundred 30-06 cases with it, and decide if you wouldn't rather use something bigger.
