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Getting started with microcontrollers is a breeze today, so many good resources, ready add-on components, controllers that support high-level language, etc. My first controller was a PIC which you programmed in assembly language, then AVR/Atmel Atmega, which could luckily be programmed in C. Probably my favorite class in college too.

But from a hobbyist standpoint - if you want to build cool stuff that you're going to use, I'd probably go for something which has a more rapid development process than the older cards. MCUs are GREAT for learning applied/hands-on electronics, while also getting a small crash-course in computer architecture, but unless you're super motivated, and like to spend time on shopping for parts, it kind of becomes a chore to roll out everything on your own.