Personally I've found Hawk to be the easiest way into DCS.
It is easy to use, handles really well and has good tutorials. Not much bells and whistles either, so not that hard to master. I fully understand it doesn't bring same usability like Mig-21 for example, but it is much easier plane to learn.
It was actually first plane in DCS that I started really enjoying (just easy enough to learn well and take everything out of it). After learning it, jumping into Mig-21 or A-10 has been lot easier.
In general, I've just picked quick missions with a few enemy ground attackers inbound and try to take them out with hawk. Ramp start is also relatively easy in hawk, so full experience from ramp, combat and land is often done in less than 20 minutes. Fitting for few quick flights every now and then.
It is no match for any serious fighter, but good enough to learn basic attack runs (both aerial and ground) and how to avoid being shot down yourself.
So I would certainly recommend hawk for anyone still learning the ropes. Anyone already easily handling A-10C or similar most likely can not get that much out of it.
Personally I enjoy it a lot just because it offers quite complete experience while still being rather relaxed. (Although pilot dies pretty much every time you take missile hit and you have no RWR, so vulnerable pilot logbook makes it much less relaxing in combat.)