Stix
IMHO the real yardstick of how valuable the data system will be to you is if you are able to get a LOT of data from faster drivers on a similar system.
Sure, having a sophisticated system with all the bells and whistles is great and will keep you inthralled and engaged (for a short period anyway), but I would trade that system anyday for a simple system where I can compare myself to others that are faster than me.
So get the data system that the others in your class are using (and will let you compare).
I LOVE Traqmate's simplicity and intuitive interface, but what I love even more about it is that here in the SE pretty much anyone and everyone has it and most will share with you.
I have used Race Technology and it took me a long time to get to grips with it. It is definitely not intuitive in the way Traqmate is, but once you start learning it and get familiar with it, it starts to show its strength. The greatest feature for me is the ability to compare a lap side by side with the data overlayed over two simultaneous video feeds. That in itself makes me want to consider it, but apart from a few in the NE using it that I know, it would be pretty much a futile academic pursuit as I would have no access to comparative data.