Stick gives you a really pretty weld if you are careful with it. It doesn't sound all that important but head to head these processes achieve fairly similar results so simple things then come into play. I find that with the MIG set I get a standard fillet of smooth metal, but on stick it has a nice finish to it. Another thing, stick also allows better control of penetration and general weld progression, since you can't adjust the wire speed mid weld with MIG. When most people make welds with MIG they run them quickly and end up with little heat penetration and just a blob on the metal.
I made this point to my co-worker and he even made fun of some guy across the road from us for his welds being way too cold with MIG. But then he told me I was running mine way too hot and turned the set down. This means you end up with a lump on the work and spatter going everywhere.
I've ripped into MIG above but in reality I love it. So many people say it's for untrained chimps but that simply seals their stamp as ignorant for me. There is no way on Earth most of the things we take for granted could be produced, A.) As cheaply or B.) As quickly as they are due to MIG. Show me the uber on a Stick welder who can run welds as fast as the MIG welder. You can't. After 15cm of travel the stick needs changing. Great if you need to frequently change fillers, but you usually don't.
MIG is a great process for a hobbyist or commercial application. For the hobbyist it allows lots more time planning your projects and working out if it's going together right, rather than spending hours of your time sticking it. MIG can be done by novice welders but the weld will be a novice weld. I maintain that it's just as tricky to set up a MIG set correctly as it is to work a Stick welder. I picked up a stick set 6 - 8 weeks ago for the first time and learnt how to run good strong welds in less time than it took me on the MIG. I then bought a Thermal Arc 400 amp stick set since I found a guy selling one who didn't know what it was! :-) My only advice when buying a MIG set is get one with a good high ampage. I would say that if I could get £50 back for my cheap import thing then I would. About 200 amps will be great for a hobbyist. We use about 200 - 250 amps on 10mm flat bar when we make gates and it welds them fine. Those 100 - 140amp things don't really work that well though. Great on pipe, nothing else.
Go for MIG, or... erm... GMAW as you guys would call it. :-)