996 or 997 - Which is the best entry level Porsche 911 for you?

I get asked this question almost daily through comments on YouTube, Instagram and the other content platforms I'm on... which is the best entry 911 for me? 
Most often, the people asking are looking at the 996s and 997s. This is a topic that's very close to my heart, because as much as I love the 997, there is a lot to be said for the 996 and it deserves a lot more respect and love that it has received since it first launch in the late 1990s. How do you make a decision like this though...? Let's talk.