I bought a hybrid as my first bike and rode it for 10 years. It's a good all 'rounder, they'll do most anything, though as they say, jack of all trades, master of none. It'll get you around. You can refit it for all sorts of uses, put on 28s at high pressure and roll pretty fast, put on up to maybe 45s with nobbies if you need to roll on grass and gravel.

If you wind up not sticking with it, you're not out much and still have a nice utility bike that you don't have to be terrified to leave locked on the street. If you do, it'll teach you what you want on a bike and what's important to you, and make you more qualified to take a test ride when you decide to upgrade.

I think long run the money put into a hybrid is a good investment in learning.