Newbie editor (Score 1)

While I am learning vim, I have used nano (a pico clone) a few times and I agree it is a better newbie editor. But I would recommend vi over emacs for a future sysadmin, since you're never going to fit emacs on a bare floppy, let alone Tom's Root Boot. Once learned, you can be productive in either, but if the iron won't boot, you'd better be able to use vi (or maybe nano / pico / joe).

Ross