Its like talking to a realtor...never tell them what your willing to spend, they always advice on something that costs more, everyone will say the at pro including me, but you buy that then the gpp then the lesche, then the knee pads, then the sand scoop, then the shovel, then the pouch, then etc, etc, etc, pretty soon your $450 limit is $1100 and rising...id say get a garrett 250 and a propointer, cos no matter what detector you get the propointer will be good to go, then a decent digger, the lesche is seen as about the best but a tough digger will do, and get a pouch but get some knee pads.
Keep it real and you might just find you want to upgrade later the detectors sell for not too far from their new prices if you dont beat the snot out of them and you have got the best thing and most valuable thing you can get...experience