My best advise is to just start riding bikes in your price range. The more bikes you ride, the more one or two will stick out to you as "better". Know now that there is no "perfect". In fact, you may want another/different bike a year from now after you've ridden a couple thousand miles & realize that what was perfect for you originally has changed. But don't sweat that for now. For now just test & shop bikes in your price range & make sure they fit you well.
As for Harley (Durian Rider).......if he was OP, he'd make no bones about it. He'd simply say so. It'd be too much work for him to pull a troll stunt like this here. Maybe elsewhere but not here. I find him pretty hilarious otherwise. No gospel in what he's saying, but it's definitely what works for him. He's a VERY strong rider and is probably healthier than most here.