When I started airbrushing (last June) I fell into a Paasche VL, and an Aztek 370. (The 370 is a dual action internal mix airbrush that has a permanently affixed hose. It sells in a set with a can of air and one of those round Testorspaint organizers. $39 at Walmart.)
Reading what I had about Aztek brushes, I almost threw it away. I kept it though, but started using the Paasche. After a few weeks of getting comfortable with the Paasche, I gave the Aztek a try.
I bought two tips (it came with an general purpose acrylic). I bought a fine tip and a general purpose tip. I immediately liked the side feed cup, and the cleanup was simpler and faster. (Although if the difference was more than 2 minutes I'd be surprised.) I did find the Aztek easier to clean, though, and now it's like a 2 minute job. (I disassemble the tip after each use.... not recommended by the manufacturer, but it's really fast actually.)
When I switched to acrylics, I settled on the Aztek. The Paasche was awful about tip dry, yet running the same paint through the Aztek almost never results in tip dry. And the results I got were better with the Aztek.
The one thing the VL had I wish my Aztek had was a fine adjustment dial, which is on the Aztek 470. At some point, I'll get one of those.
As my airbrush skills have developed, I find I really enjoy my cheap little Aztek. I've since used a Badger and an Iwata airbrush, and they were great. I found no problems with them.
Still- I've not found any reason to switch. I've been using the same tips since June, and have disassembled them after every use, cleaned 'em, and put them back together. No problems at all.
I guess the moral of the story is that exactly what several folks told me early on- it's not the airbrush but the hand that holds it. Thought I've heard complaints from former Aztek users sometimes, I've never experienced any of them. I can do fine lines, wide areas, free-hand,etc., and I feel like the only thing holding me back from getting the results I want is my own skill.
If you can try out several airbrushes, do so. But ultimately, compare features and prices and so forth, and make what you feel is the best buy. Then practice and work at it.
I know a guy at the LHS who can do the most amazing stuff with his top of the line Iwata. I asked him what he thought of Azteks, and he said he preferred Iwata... then showed me a kit or two that he did with an Aztek that made my jaw drop.
So do your research, make your best choice, and keep working at it! Ultimately, it's not the airbrush, but you!
Good luck!