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Contrary to the conventional wisdom, I think the All In One Nano tanks are great for beginners-- especially because they require a bit more attention and are less intimidating for someone who's not a professional plumber or electrician. You'll learn quicker with a smaller tank as well-- wax on, wax off, paint fence....
I would suggest going for something other a little larger than the 12 gallon, though. If you can possibly afford it, the 28 gal NC HQI is a really nice system that will allow you to go in just about any direction you want and it'll allow you some room to grow. As everyone here can attest to, if you start with a 12 gallon you'll be looking to buy a another, larger setup within a year or less. If that's out of your price range, the 24 gallon systems without the Metal Halide will give you the extra space for less money, but you'll probably soon find you want stronger lights. It's usually the first thing people sacrifice to save money and the first thing on a tank they become dissatisfied with. Upgrading lighting on an exisiting tank can be expensive, complicated, and downright dangerous for the non-electrician if you go the DIY route.
As far as cost goes, it really depends on what your "passion" is and becomes. It's also cumulative over time. Reef tanks aren't set up and stocked in a single day. Some people are fascinated and satisfied with inexpensive and easy to find mushrooms and soft corals while others won't waste space on anything but the rarest most expensive SPS corals. It can be a good idea to do the tank in phases-- buy the tank, sand and rocks and set it up and let it cycle for a month or two while you save money and decide what you want to keep. Taking your time can allow you to spread the costs out and is generally considered a key to long term success.
Good luck!
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