I am going back to school for photography and we started out with black and white. Anyhow I would buy the regular B&W film. I use Kodak TMax , not the B&W that can be developed like color. The kind that can be developed in a color lab has a green cast to it. It will take longer to get your prints back with regular B&W but I think you will be happier in the longrun.
I haven't done any tinting but in reading thre HIA news there is going to be a new photo tinting kit that is supposed to be wonderful. I can't wait to try it myself!
Tammy