I think that such a choice is your own personal decision.
I feel that there are so many reasons for choosing a certain model to build.
Passion, historical value, Nostalgia and not forgetting gut feeling, and that is why I am finding this hobby so fascinating and interesting.
I think that the ultimate decision must be your own, or that which is chosen by your peers might always be second best to your own choice.
I have come to believe that different to all other forms of modelling and model making in other mediums, that I have come across, be it model trains, aircraft or even dolls houses that I partook in for a short period of time, there has never been seen such passion as that which I have seen in the model ships on here.
As such I feel that there will be many different choices given to you, but there is only one choice that matters in the end.
And that choice is and must always be yours and from the heart.
Jim.