Coinbase does have low rates, but one needs to balance this with the unpredictability of their servers as well as the low number of coins that they have listed. In my opinion I think that starting off as a beginning on a good and low rate exchange is a much better option to learn because you can start trading with a very small value and in low value coins.I do agree with you coinbase as been in existence for so long its user friendly and its stuff is always very good , I mean low coin rates too so you can have the best first best experience using coinbase