Sponge filters! Cheap, effective and efficient (with the right pumps). It wouldn't be a bad idea to get experience on all of them. Personal experience will be your best answer.
I have always used HOB in the past (but never AC110) and recently went with FX5's. I was 100% set on only having FX5's until JK47 built me a sump. Now anything I have bigger than 100g, it will have a sump. Period.
To each is own though. Get some experience and play around with everything - its what makes this hobby so enjoyable and gratifying.