Nice review gore. last week when I decided that I want to learn a Unix-like operating system I found FreeBSD, did some searching first and learned that PC-BSD was designed on FreeBSD and would configure stuff for you and bring you right to the GUI. So I chose PCBSD and installed

And just as you said, it all installed easily and I was presented with KDE after signing in. Sound worked too which was amazing, and basically everything you already said. I however did not like KDE and went on the quest to get gnome, and got lost along the way. I ended up however getting upset that everything was bing done for me so I scratched PCBSD in exchange for FreeBSD. I realized you could use the same disk to install FreeBSD but I did want a 64bit build and opted to download the amd64 build of FreeBSD which I have spent a few 12 hour days straight using.

If someone wants to use FreeBSD but is a beginner like myself go for PC-BSD. If you decide to change your mind later you can. Both required me to do some funny Linux wrapper stuff with flash to get it working but the instructions were easy to follow and FreeBSD comes with a neat handbook.

My 3 cents.