GURPS Questions

[weswood]

I've been looking into the GURPS sytem for a while now, thinking of getting into it. I've got my patched together bastardized game rules, but I'm not happy about some of the rules, and I'm not coming up with anything better.

I'd like a game system that is easy to play & learn; flexible so that I can have post WWIII characters run into strangeness- lost islands filled with extinct mammals & dinosuars, enclaves in Europe where the locals are reduced to medieval style weapons & armors, maybe even throw some aliens at them.

I've looked over the GURPS 4th ed, I really like the Advantages and Disadvantages for characters, but I'm not real fond of the price. The GURPS 3rd ed is about half the cost (online @ e23, SJ games vendor) and seems to be more supported at this time than the 4th ed. How does the 3rd ed face up to the 4th? I know several of you use GURPS, what would you advice as far as an initial steps? Somethting to run a T2k campaign.

Thanks