I'd start small/low commitment, and see how you like it. I loved all my big old 4x4's, but I don't miss the gas, wrenching, and cost to replace things like big tires. That said, I didn't get any education past high school, so I look at the costs a bit, compared to folks who can afford those awesome military truck based camper/home-base-on-wheels that cost more per tire than a lot of my early vehicles. Anyways, see how you enjoy it, and branch out/grow from there. I love watching videos with all the gear, navigation equipment, recovery gear, RTT's, etc. But, at the end of the day, it's me, the wife, an Impreza wagon, and the same sort of gear I take hiking, canoeing, fatbiking, etc. I can drive on some truly "bad roads", soft-roading, really, but it's no hard core wheeler. If you travel light, are resourceful and can drive pretty well, you'd be surprised where you can go, what you can discover and how much fun it can be. Whatever you get, I second all the comments about knowing the vehicle's nuances. Nip problems in the bud, keep an eye and ear on it each time you drive. Know what it can handle, and what it doesn't like. Know your range in different circumstances. Travel as light as you can get away with, without sacrificing comfort to a point where it's not fun anymore. BE SMART!!! A top shelf rig won't help you read a map better, do remote-ish repairs, recovery or give you any local knowledge. And, the more you do it, the more you can change/upgrade things, or if it's unrealistic, make note of it for the next vehicle purchase when the time comes. "I didn't like this about it, but I loved that..." A 4x4 is great for hauling stuff, going over/through stuff, (money included), and is generally a great deal of fun. However, you can get stuck/broken a lot further from help. Keep this in mind; a super capable rig is not going to get you back out if you need help, either medical or something else that prevents you from driving out. Just hope your help has the same sort of rigs, or a chopper. If you need that, than it's there, but for lesser emergencies, you can't just expect anyone to show up. That said, you are probably not going to get too over your head if it's your first 4x4.
So, to conclude my babble, get what you can afford, can keep running, that will carry what you need/want, and you can safely drive/fit where you are going. And make it better if and when the need arises. And maintain WHATEVER you get! Have fun, learn some skills and see the world!
