Hunter Help needed

[shemhamphorae]

question for all you hunters out there:
yes, im not only a forums newbie, but im also a bit of a PSO newbie (highest char is level 40) and im looking for some help with a hunter im going to make.
I play offline co-op with 2 of my other friends, and seeing how we have just OK ideas for our 3 characters (RAcast Purplenum, HUcast Blueful, and FOnewm Pinkal) we are going to make some new characters for more drops, and to play a new class.
I'm going to be a hunter, after 40 levels of RAcast.
I want to be a class that gains ATP quickly, but I also want to be able to use Shifta and Deband for when im soloing by myself.
So, what im asking is, I really want to be a HUmar, but are the stat differences between it and a HUcast really big?
(i.e. is there a massive ATP difference? My friend has a spare DB's Saber he said I could have once I get the required ATP, and I'd like to use it as soon as I can, but will I have to wait a lot longer to use it if I'm a HUmar, as opposed to a HUcast?)
Also, if I want to use techs, should I just be a HUneweral?
I'm just asking as I don't know a lot about hunters, and any input you can give would be a tremendous help.