Which character do I pick?
Pick whoever you want.
Sticking with someone you like is far more sustainable than taking an early tier list as gospel. Modern Fighting Games are as such that it's nigh impossible to lose on character select, and more importantly: Character strength is most relevant at the highest level of play.
Hop in and experiment. Press buttons in Training Mode and see what feels good to do. Even if Street Fighter 6 is your first fighting game, you might already have ideas of what archetype you're looking for.
- Do you prefer quick, nimble characters?
- ...Or huge, hard hitting beasts?
- Would you like to manage a separate resource while you fight?
- ...Or keep it simple?
- Do you love projectiles?
- ...Or think zoning is cheating?
If you love the character you play, fighting games stop feeling like homework. Remember this is a video game, not a varsity sport. Play should feel fun, fulfilling, and bring you back again and again. That ideal starts with your character.
Shouldn't I just pick Ryu?
Nope! (tbw)
Do I need an Arcade Stick?
Nope! (tbw)