My first kite was a brand new 2011 Fluid ATV 10m. However, it took all I my $$$ and I did not want or could not justify $1.5K + for a new kite, so I sold it and used the dosh to buy 2nd hand kites ever since. Buy 2nd hand and sell them on after a year or so.... bought more 2nd hand kites, and so on.
At one point I had 18 kites! Now I have 12.
My favourites now are Naish Boxer SLE 15m, with cross-over bar, and the Peter Lynn Synergy 12m. That is an amazing kite in 20+ knots.
Spins on a dime and pulls like a truck. I love kites that have grunt and some bar pressure, so I can feel the kite itself better.
One other favourite is ......drumroll........ Peter Lynn Waterfoil 5.6m, but the reason I love this kite so much is 1. it's small and packs into my pocket just about and 2. I've rebridled it entirely into a depower system, with a mixer, so now I can use it with a standard 4-line depower bar. It pulls like a 10m LEI kite, but spins incredibly fast. It requires a lot of control, but once parked she stays anywhere in the wind window you want. Great for 25knots +