Starting with Leica? - literally

Even if $10K is walking-around money to you, I think you'd do better to start with something far more modest! Not because M is difficult to learn: In fact, you can learn the basics in 15 minutes. But because at this stage of your evolution, it seems as if you are relying on the purchase of new gear to inspire your photography, but that kind of inspiration tends to last only as long as the new-toy aura does. Practice with more modest gear until you reach a point that your inspiration comes from within (and no longer need special "photo events" to motivate you) and at that point, I think you'll enjoy an M a lot more.