I was also faced with this dilemma when i started ,
I wanted to do kitesurfing but i was still in school so didnt have any money,
so i bought a whole heap of windsurfing gear really cheap and have never looked back ( off the cheap gear now tho )
However! i soon found out that windsurfing gear is probably more expnsive in the long run.
BUT!!! it all depends on how much fn you wanna have ( NOT a kiting VS windsurfing arguement) to go out in all conditions u need to buy allot or gear.
Its a very complicated thing really.
Pick whichever one you wanna do and go for that one. PS windsurfing is better 
Warning: kitesurfing may cause you to compulsively masturbate to pictures of men
If you go the kitesurfing route you will need lessons. They aren't cheap, and are totally essential if you don't want to kill yourself (or others). You're looking at at least $200 in lessons before it's safe enough to let you loose on your own.
For windsurfing, one lesson with hire gear will set you back around $30, and then you'll be fine to bumble around in light winds by yourself.
As for gear, old kiting gear is cheap, dangerous, and relatively easy to get going on.
Old windsurfing gear is cheap, safe, but difficult to learn on.
What's your budget?
For kiting the average new quiver would be:
2 new Kites - $3000 - $4000
2 boards - $1400 - $1800
^VERY ROUGH numbers.
This excludes harness and wettie because they are also needed for windsurfing. Harness would be $100 - $200
I got my first set of gear for around $1700 and it was all new stuff you could probably go for 2nd hand stuff for below $1000 1 kite, 1 board. I'd advise you to talk to someone about which kites/boards are suitable if you want to get something 2nd hand.
It is not necessary to have more than one kite or board particularly if you have a kite and board with a high wind range.
Sheesh windsurfing must be very expensive.
im currently in the same boat, how ever, in yeppoon i can't find any where that gives lessons for either, so i have chosen wind surfing for a few reasons.
i can always change if i want.
The local sailing club has beginners wind surfing gear.
and i have spoken to a few of the locals on here about it, and most are nice enough to offer help while you start out. [probably true with kite surfers aswell.]
Get some engrish lesons then by a cite.
A year ago I sold 2 ancient kites, bar & lines to match, an old harness and an old board to a mate for $600. Threw in some lessons even, & now he's up and riding.
I'm sure there's plenty of guys with this sort of kit sitting round in the back of the garage.. maybe make an appeal on the other forum?
It's funny though, back in 03 and 04 the best we had were 03 and 04 kites to be beginners on.
Instinctively I'd have said windsurfing was more expensive, but I bought a full set up of quality gear for approx $3k when I first got here (that was probably the best deal I've ever done though, and not seen anything like it since), so maybe it's all comparable.
However, the killer bit for some (inc. a couple of my student mates in Melbourne) is that for windsurfing eventually you need a car / van... whereas I know kiters who ride their bikes or the tram to the beach...
Go to the beach when its windy. What do you see... yes, kiters.
thats because you need like 40+kns for windsurfing.
doesnt happen much at the best of times.
PS. if you enjoy sipping tea and eating fruitcake after a session, sounds like your a poley deep down.
Couple of things to consider:
Do you have a car with roofracks or a ute?
Do you have to carry your gear for long distances?
Kiting gear is compact, light weight and will fit in some of the smallest cars out there.
What are you looking to get into? Waves? Big Airs? Wakeboarding? Speed? Each sport has its own advantages so have a think.
Kiting in my opinion is more versitile with the mix of boards available (surfboards, kiteboards, skim boards, mountain boards, buggies)
Cost wise, well I've gotten my mates into it kiting for about $900. Thats 1 kite, 1 board and harness. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUY, PLENTY OF LEMONS OUT THERE.
Just remeber tho, either sport is very addictive, expensive and you will probably be broke for the rest of your life to feed that addiction with new kites, sails or boards.
Good luck with the final decision and the english exam!
