as a newbie Id suggest the TIME Alium. nothing to adjust. no tension, angle,centering. nothing. then the user can concentrate on riding and getting used to clip,unclip without needing to tweak anything.
I started on the Alium. made the adjustment from BMX pedals much easier. Time uses the same quality bearings in both their lines as well as the same cleats. its just material, shape and extras that separate the ATAC Alium from the ATAC XS. I use the carbon XS now.
the reason I resisted going to clipless for so many years was all the bs in the learning of SPD pedals. Times are simple and work with nothing to tweak and you can get mud or ice in your cleats and still get out quick if need be. nothing worse than trying to unclip in order to keep from getting hurt and your foot is stuck. very bad for the knees and ankles .
the eggbeaters are not, IMO , as abusable as the Times. too susceptible to bending or breaking in crashes or hits involving rocks.
I hit a rock so hard on my old Aliums that it bent the crankarm but the pedal was fine