Since you are new to reloading I would stay away from a progressive press, there's too many things that need adjusting at the same time to make frustration free ammo. Start out with a single stag press.
Ridiculous
You can run a progressive one round at a time if you choose.
I totally agree.
Over the decades, I have helped many new reloaders get started on reloading, even on a progressive, and they did fine. And do you even own a progressive press?
If you disable the auto index feature on a progressive, you can use as a dedicated single stage press or like member Texas10mm posted, run one round at a time to use it like a turret press.
When I helped new reloaders get started on a progressive, I go over the reloading basics and have the users run one round at a time until they were comfortable running the press in progressive mode. If the user reloaded rifle cartridges, I recommend they use an "O" type single stage press and "Pay It Forward" used single stage/progressive presses I accumulate on an ongoing basis (which is one of many PIF projects wife and I support for our retirement).
To me Lee products look like they are cheaply made
Just like Glocks which have evolved and improved over the years, so have Dillon (like the new 750) and Lee products like the new Auto Breech Lock Pro/Pro 4000 and updated Pro 1000 which now have steel flat base with through ram spent primer disposal all with ergo roller handles using improved leverage linkages. I have 14 presses to include C-H/Dillon/Lee/RCBS and while enjoy using Dillon 550/650, would gladly recommend the ABLP/Pro 4000 to any new reloader starting out and currently use ABLP/Pro 4000/Pro 1000 to load test rounds for various THR threads/myth busting threads.
Why when I have Dillon 550/650?
Unlike other brand progressive presses, ABLP/Pro 4000/1000 presses use floating shell plate design with ram mounted offset under station #1 so when resizing force is applied, shell plate simply lowers and contacts the top of the shell plate carrier for more consistent OAL. Even with my "humble" Pro 1000, I can get .001" OAL variance using pre-resized brass due to this feature -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...progressive-press.833604/page-2#post-10779806
Post illustrating Pro 4000/1000's "floating shell plate" design with offset ram mount -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...progressive-press.833604/page-2#post-10779966
In contrast, most other brand progressive presses mount the ram in the center of shell plate which can add shell plate tilt/deflection when resizing force is applied at station #1 and separately resizing the brass will reduce the OAL variance.
As to the durability of ABLP/Pro 4000, round count loaded is over 10,000 and other than routine lubrication of metal-to-metal contact surfaces with oil, press has remained tight and operates without the typical "progressive tinkering" reloaders are familiar with any brand of progressive press. My die adjustments stay put with breech lock bushings and Safety Prime chugs along placing primers in the small/large primer arms down to last primer in the chute. I love the no-adjustment shell plate index feature as carrier can't reach bottom without guide rod going through the holes on shell plate - Brilliant design and kudos to John Lee and Lee Precision engineers. And like the Classic Turret, no more pesky spent primers as all the spent primers are dropped through the ram into a plastic bottle for clean disposal.
I had some reservations/doubts when ABLP/Pro 4000 was initially released but having used it for some time now and shared my experience with other press users, we marvel at the ingenuity of the press operation and ease/speed of caliber changes.
So aside from Dillon 550, I would consider the ABLP/Pro 4000 to be "THE" press for anyone considering a progressive press, hands down, if there isn't enough funding to buy a 550.