OK, I don't have the retail client yet. and I don't even plan on getting it until a week or so after release... I'm simply too caught up with work tbh. But even so, I'm still trying to figure out from here which class to start with. I'll most definitely end up trying all of them (at least all of the melee classes) eventually, but I want to know ahead of time which class I should use as my main so I don't have to go through the entire tutorial process all over again with a new class if I find the one I play is not all that it seems to be (unless what I hear about being able to skip once you get one past the tutorial is true)...

Right now I'm deciding between the barbarian, the bear shaman, and the Hox... the barbarian apparently is overpowered at the moment, which I can easily believe... being a rogue class, it has the benefit of stealth without a nerf. Also, it has the benefit of more survivability than an assasin and similar damage outputs. Then I looked at the bear shaman... at first was going to be my choice. I like being the melee-type healer. It mixes two of my favorite types of classes very well... I like having a very large amount of abilities which is what these caster/melee types offer. But I hear mixed reviews. From some they say it's an underpowered class while others say they grow much more powerful as they grow in level. Then I saw the HoX... at first I didn't really want to try it as it appears they lack any sort of survivability... but more and more I'm being attached to the class... after looking at their combos and feats, they seem like a really fun and versatile class. But I hear from almost everyone that this type is nothing more than a glass cannon. While damage may be fun, I don't really think constant death counterweighs that factor.

Any info on these specific classes would be appreciated.

As with every class, they are somewhat different. Sure you have melee and range, but each is different. Nevertheless, this does not mean they are equal. Each class has its own qwirks, benefits, and weak spots. While I don't have much detail because I have only played with one or two classes, try to take into account what you have played in other MMOs and which of those you enjoyed. You're either a meat shield, damage dealer, mixed class, or healer. I would try reading more into each of the class specifics. Gamespot's wiki has been really helpful to me. It may be helpful to you. Here is the link to the classes page. aoc-gamespot.wikia.com/wiki/Class

I understand your pain.  AoC has some very nice balanced classes right now and it is hard to decide.  Right now I am sticking with my PoM as my main.  I keep going back and forth between an Assassin and a Ranger for my main alts.

I have spent way too much time trying to figure out my main.  I will make it to 20 tonight after the servers come back up but honestly by now I should be at least in my mid 30s with the time I have put into the game so far since EA started.  

Assassins are silk wearers and can drop quick if you aren't careful but as long as you plan out your attacks you can tear threw mobs so fast.   There certainly isn't the "just running into the thick" like Barbs but then again Barbs can get over loaded fairly quickly too.   Between my Barb and Assassin personally I think the Assassin is better overall.

Not really familar with HoX since I just done one to around 10.  They can churn out major DPS but the problem is if you don't watch your form and drop out of form in the middle of a bunch of mobs you are a goner.

You might want to try a Conq. too.  They have DPS almost as good as a Barbs yet far better utility and surviability than a Barb.

Im really enjoying my Dark Templar - once you have a few feat points spent your life drops so slowly because your bringing it back in drips and drabs with every swing (and when they hit you if you go down either tree and take the right feats)