D&D BECMI by Mentzer has been a starting point for a lot of older gamers, however also other versions such as BX and Holmes was also a solid starting point. So the question becomes this?
What version did you start, which version did you prefer and why?
B/X. I prefer B/X to BECMI. It's shorter (faster to read), and I like the art and presentation better. Don't get me wrong, I like Elmore, but I like Willingham and Otis much better.