Hi,
Obviously, TWoS:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=210703
Best choice for newcomer in my opinion as stock game is awful and by creating your own mod selection you're very likely to make game unstable. TWoS comes with relatively simple installer and is very, very stable on top of adding copious amount of content.
Another choice, if you prefer less modified but still stable game, would be recent modlist by Xenonsurf:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=241069
As for "better late than never" - games (except for online games) are like wine, the later you play them the better they are.