With a clone you get a good genetics, unless you're buying a shitty clone. If you're buying from a dispensary, I'd bet the genetics are good. From seeds, there can be multiple phenotypes, some of which may be undesirable.
As a personal use only smoker and self proclaimed cannabis connosiuer I prefer to grow from seed. been growing a long time and thanks to the variety of seeds available, I have never grown the same plant twice. Variety is the spice of life.
I like seed as far as growing for personal use. You do get a bad pheno every now and then, but growing from seed is how the best phenos are found. I also enjoy variety, and being in a non medical state good clones are expensive. Clones are easier in that you have an established plant and skip the fragile seedling stage. However, popping seeds is easy once you get the hang of it.
After several grows with each, I prefer clones. If you have a good source for clones, you don't have to deal with runts and bad phenos. Growing from seed, I've had to start several plants just to find one fast growing healthy indica plant. With clones I can just go grab one off the shelf. I'd say seeds are great for experienced growers that can recognize the traits they want in a seedling and people who want to breed. For a new grower looking for a fool proof grow, I'd say clones all the way.
I would say go with a few seeds. Plant them and select the best female you have from the batch. After doing so nurture the selected female in a vegetative state and take cuttings from her make your own clones. Then my friend you have an endless supply of clones
I'd rather grow from seed if the clones are not from one of my own mother plants. You can get all kinds of problems with clones like disease and mold. Seeds are simple to get and you get to pick the strain and breeder
My first grow outdoors was from clones. My first indoor grow was from seeds but that was after getting some experince with the plants from the outdoor grow. For a beginner on thier first grow I would reccomend clones.I now grow mother plants from seeds then clone them. I still get clones when I find some really good ones of strains I would like to try without buying the seeds first.
If he was really your "buddy" he'd give you the clone. Let's be real, it's not hard to get a clone. If he was that good of a friend he wouldn't sell it to you in the first place. Seeds are as easy as clones IMO, the only difference is that 1. Clones are already mature and will grow a little faster, and 2. the time it takes for them to root and everything. If it's already rooted and everything (which a clone should be if it's being sold) then it's not bad to get a clone. I'm only on my first grow, and started from seeds. Have 3 plants, and took 8 clones from my best plant (about 2 weeks ago) just to practice as I've never done it before. They are all rooted, and already repotted and I moved to flower already. That's one bonus about the clones is once they've rooted you can move them into flower. Won't get nearly as much as if you veg, but again, I just did mine for practice. Hell if I got a quarter off of each I'd be happy. The best part of the clones are that you know they are from a good plant because you typically choose your best female. Really can't go wrong with either. Seeds are easy though. The only bonus to the clone is it will already be rooted.