I haven't heard any names I dislike, what impeccable taste you all must have!
Now cloth nappies, I love them. I would buy a few different types and see what works best for your Baby's shape. Gets some Bitti tuttos as they are in the sale and RRP at 17.50 usually, and are very, very adjustable also get some Rockin' Green laundry powder while you are at it.
You can use standard washing detergent but I have found this stuff the best and Dd is very prone to rash/thrush so I have to be careful.
You wash everything, I separate out the inserts from the outers (usually before I stick them in the bucket) so they wash a bit better, I rinse them once in the machine, (to get rid of any wee) then put them on a 40 or 60 wash, do two further rinses and dry. My machine takes in hardly any water so I need to rinse more than you might need.
I also use disposable mio liners as I am not really a poo person, especially not first thing in the morning (thanks DD!) the liner catches the poo and you throw the liner and poo down the toilet. if I have run out liners I tip as much poo down the loo as possible by turning the nappy inside out ,and rinse the nappy under the flush. I also give two rinses before I put the nappies on to wash if I don't have any disposable liners to remover 'solids.'
For storage I 'dry pail' them stick them in a bucket with a lid and leave them. I am going to have to buy a larger bucket so buy the largest you can find, perhaps consider a lockable one if it will be kept where LO can get to them... 
I did start off using disposables and it was costing me £10 a week, so although I have spent about £300/400 (as I like fancy fluff!) It is a saving overall, (especially as my originals are 2 1/2 years old and will be going to new baby!) I also have loads of nappies so that I don't have to wash as often. The liners do cost about £5 for 160 liners but they last a long time. And you don't have to use disposable liners, they are just my preference.
If you look in their advice section they have lots of information, I like their site generally. I buy nappies when I see them on offer so have only once bought full price nappies and they were a trial pack so had a couple of freebies!
It is also worth thinking about how you will be drying them, most outers (the waterproof outer part) cannot go in a tumble dryer, also some materials dry faster than others. I have some that I use first out of a wash as they dry quickest (Close parent Dream dri-they have just released a new version with miny inners which will be gorgeous as minky is really soft) and some that don't get used until right at the end. Although at the moment all the inners (absorbent parts) are going in the tumble dryer! The outers of my Bitti tuttos also go in the tumble although this will eventually shorten their life.
As for wearing, a few of mine are going to be retired in awhile as the velcros is getting worn, but I have used them pretty intensively for 2 1/2 years and they are the ones I first bought and I washing them almost daily as I didn't have as many nappies back then. They are still working, fine just possibly won't last another year!
I hope this gives you an idea!