We have a Delta Shopmaster chop saw, as well as a horizontal bandsaw. I'm a rookie this year, but from what I've seen so far, I would say go with a chop saw before a bandsaw. Our bandsaw can be a bit slow and it doesn't always cut straight. The chop saw, which almost everyone on the team seems to prefer, always cuts straight, quickly and easily. I've seen it slice through wood, PVC pipe, a solid round PVC roller thing, and an aluminum pipe. It went through all of that like a hot knife through a stick of butter. You just have to be careful when cutting something too small to clamp one side down, as that piece can(and will!) go flying.
As for calipers, from my limited experience with them, I prefer the dial type. Having used both, digital ones are hard to use, IMO.