Seeking homebrew guidance...

[potlimit]

Okay, so I've read "How to Brew," lived on homebrewtalk for the last two weeks (total hours reading threads > total hours spent sleeping), and got what I'm sure is everything I need and then some.

I really only have one question that's still kind of bothering me... Yeast pitching. How many of you use starters, and would you say this is the best way to go? I only ask because (as everything I've read describing it states) it's basically brewing a small beer, and I'm trying to keep down the number of variables that can cause me problems.

So, what say you on the starter?