I have been a Palm user for a few years and have recently acquired an iPAQ (PocketPC).
Bottom line: figure out what you want it for. If you mostly want an organiser, calendar, etc. then the Palm is a good device, and is what it was designed for.
The Sony Clie Palm-based device is the half-way house between a Palm and a PocketPC, but it is hampered by the Palm's operating system.
If you see yourself requiring the ability to use documents from Word, Excel, etc. listen to MP3s, connect to local area networks, access "real applications" go for the PocketPC.
Longer term this is what will happen: the Palm based devices will be consumer level and the PocketPC ones will be used by companies to enable their employees to run productivity applications and access company resources, etc.
If you decide that the PocketPC is for you, I would suggest that you wait until the middle of next year for improved models at more reasonable price points.