If you are a beginner definitely go for a private node, Blixt or Zeus are the best of those nowadays. As a newbie running a routing node you will probably do more harm to the network than helping it so a lot of learning first before getting to that (optional) level 

galt

Make a very important distinction between public and private LN nodes.

DarthCoin

bitcoin

When you run a bitcoin LN, who benefits more: you or the entire bitcoin network?

Taft

Thanks for the suggestion! Didn't know this difference. I'll try to explore it more. 