I disagree.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting out with the best guitar one can afford. In fact, I would recommend that statement to anyone going out to buy a guitar PROVIDED they knew they were serious about playing.

Think about it: A higher end guitar has higher resale value for when one gets afflicted with GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) and just HAS to have that special guitar they just saw....

If you go out and buy a $200.00 starter guitar, that's all you will have and other than the nostalgia that surrounds it as your "First", there really is no value.

Heck, my first classical I ever bought was a Ramirez 1a.....

My first steel string was a Martin D-35.....

The way I see it, and anyone else would see it is that both those guitars are "money in the bank" should I ever need it or want to trade them out for something else. JMHO

NOTE:

This philosophy might not apply to those "new fangled eeeelectric doodad geeetars". I just know acoustics. :)