What site are you talking about? Is it WORTH the deposit bonus? (IE: Are the requirements to get your free money even worth playing?)
AS I'm sure you already know, L and NL vary extremely. If you are having bankroll issues playing the minimum, I would stay away from NL. Yes, the odds of you "crippling" someone, trapping them, and taking all their money is much higher, you have to remember that the same thing can happen to you. The good part about NL is that the blinds are usually cheaper.
As for limit, the blinds are more expensive, but you can probably stay more within your means. You won't get hit with an all-in type bet, and as a result, you won't lose your whole bank on one shitty hand where your opponent hit his 2-outer. The obvious problem is that the blinds are more expensive, and you (turning the argument around) won't hit that really big hand.
So decide what's more important and decide how you play better. If you are a better NL player, and you don't have a lot of fear "pushing all in" then maybe you should play NL. Then again, if you're looking to clear a bonus and get out alive - maybe limit is the way to go.
As far as skill level, it's hard to answer. I think, for the most part, online poker players are better than the players you will find in B/M casinos. There is a BIG difference b/n the $15/30 online player and the $1/2 online player. But, I can't really say which player is better: the micro limit NL player, or the low limit L player.
I don't think it'll be a matter of how good they are, but how good YOU are. When you sit at a table with 8 or 9 other people there will be people better and worse than you.
G'luck.
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