Should I do a dot-m race or a full triathlon that's not "ironman"
 

Anybody have any experience with either of these? Thanks!

If you don't care about qualifying for Hawaii, do whatever fits for you. Just make sure the race organization has been doing tris for a while.

I wondered the same thing, when I finally decided to register for a race. I debated doing the local ironman-distance race, or a proper Ironman.

In the end, I decided on the proper Ironman for a couple reasons. One: I wanted to say that I competed in an ironman. I figured if I'm going to spend so much money to compete in that kind of race, I want the support and attention a sanctioned Ironman race can give me, and I don't mind spending a little extra for that.