On the question of how to choose your first telescope: do not. Begin with a pair of binoculars, ideally 8×42 or 10×50, and a folding chair. Spend three months looking at the Moon, the Pleiades, and the moons of Jupiter. Take notes.
At the end of those three months, you will know what you actually want from a telescope. You might want a wide field for nebulae. You might want long focal length for planets. You might find, to your surprise, that the binoculars and the folding chair are enough.
The most common reason for an unused telescope in a closet is that it was bought before its owner knew what they wanted to see. We have made that mistake ourselves. Twice.