Are you a "Cheque-book" flyer, or do you have the time and inclination to do some/all of your own maintenance.If the former applies, you need deep pockets for an aircraft on a C of A AIUI, you can defray costs by leasing it to a club or training organisation, to use the idle hours.
If you go the Permit route, there are restrictions, some of which have been lifted recently and there is a possibility that night flight and instrument flight may be approved. you cannot rent out these aircraft (but you can share in a syndicate) You can do your own maintenance and the parts/repair situation is vastly cheaper. Permit stuff is predominantly homebuilds and "orphans" where the factory went kaput.
Carry on renting, nose around the hangars, chat to ownersjoin a club.....learn! (there are also a lot of 3-axis microlights, which seem to have all the advantages of permit operation and some of the Cof A advantages as well....they give cheap fixed-wing flying and the sector seems to be thriving ,whereas the cof A sector seems to be struggling.
When you can recognise say, a Robin, a Cub, a C150, a Tomahawk etc. you'll probably have the knowledge and confidence to make an informed and appropriate choice.
Nose around all the forums, It's amazing what you can learn..even Jet Blast has it's place
(there's always "the other side"(Flyer)
)
remember the old maxim..."buy in haste,repent at leisure" also, "if it flies, floats or f**ks, rent it"
there is a good reason!