Observations on "The Rock" and Lead Sled
I think you can do a lot worse than the current iteration of "The Rock". I have an earlier one and didn't like the "swing" type windage adjustment. I replaced the top with a better one but use the original base, wheel and bearing. I encouraged a novice friend to buy one of the newer ones for $120 and he and I are both impressed. You can do worse as a benchrest or F-class beginner.
I also talked my wife into buying me a Lead Sled after I seriously tore up my right shoulder. I used it once and put it away. I couldn't put enough padding under my already well-padded butt to get a good sight picture. I would have had to use about 3 pillows to get high enough. It certainly was not suited to any kind of accuracy shooting. I now use a Cabela's strap-on recoil pad and like it.
I've had rifles up to .338 Win Mag and .264 Wiin Mag. The only one that ever hurt me was a Remington 78 in .270. I'm not sure why it kicked so bad, but I got rid of it. If a gun is not fun to shoot, and you're not going to Africa, then why have it?