Since most stuff I've played over the last five or so years has been for review, I've gotten used to just playing on the default settings. I rarely start on a tougher setting, unless the game makes it clear that someone at my experience/skill level should be playing at that setting.
Before the days of reviewing games, I used to start on a harder setting to see if it was approachable and would only lower the challenge level if I was being annihilated.


