Let's try and get this mess straightened out.
First, no one but you can say what you "should" buy. So as far as what my suggestion is, clear your mind on what is real. You say you "may" go hunting, but no one else wants to. To me, that was a prime reason I started hunting; in a sea of girly-men, I had no interest in what "the cool kids" wanted to do. Does that motivate you, or do you need people around you to find happiness? Neither is wrong, just realize what is. If you need folks around you to do the same things, does that mean you probably aren't likely to go shooting much anyway? Then the discussion of economy of cartridges goes away.
A 223, at least for a novice, can't kill everything you are likely to want to hunt or cross paths with; the 308 will easily. Is the 223 even legal to hunt game with up there?
Have you shot both cartridges? Some can't tolerate recoil, some can. Pick what is more likely to give you the most giggle factor. For me, that has been 4,000+ rounds of 308.
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