Without question. I prefer using a one hit bowl. You get the efficiency since you waste no smoke going up in the air, it all goes in your lungs. It is cooler too. But the best part is how stoned you get.
If you want to try without spending huge money you can get a perfectly acceptable bong for $20-$30. Like said above 12" is a good size. For this price you get plastic but so what. It works just as well and you want to try it, right.