Commercial orange sponge, when DHS used to make it super tacky, was really fun to play with. Then they took the tackiness off so out goes commercial orange sponge hurricane for me.
I have since switched to provincial blue sponge and yeah I like it. But I still miss the good old days.
I have tried National blue sponge and it is not that it is all cracked up to be.
However if there is an absolute beginner, I think for $22-$25, commercial orange sponge is still a very good way to go, especially if they are on a budget and they are new to the sport.