This issue is definitly a personal preference. You'll find people who love and will only use just about every kind of album out there.
What I tell most of friends when they first start out is it really depends on the kind of scrapbooker you are. If you're extremely organized and like to work in order, like white backgrounds or cutting down to wallpaper, then CM albums and albums of the like are probably right up your alley. I love the spine on the CM albums, the albums are very durable and lovely when lined up on a shelf, I have used them for certain projects...like theme albums.
Now, if you're more like me, then a post-bound or other freestyle album may be more up your alley. I personally like to scrap what ever suits my mood or passion at the time. If I'm scrapbooking my christmas pages tonight, but tomorrow I really want to scrapbook my Fourth of July pages, I can without worrying that they won't be in order and how to make sure the layouts in between Christmas and 4th of July work out. I also will break from my chronological album to work on a theme album or gift album, so I'm constantly jumping around, but I'm also very organized, which is why I can work in both types of albums. I also like that I can slide my pages in when they are done for protection, but then rearrange if need be for any reason.
The downsides to the two types. Straphinge - I personally don't like to cut my paper down to fit inside the jeeping, sometimes I even forget then I have to go back and move things around to be able to get it to fit. I have no problem working with white paper, but I love color, cardstock, embellishments, etc...and sometimes, white just isn't the best choice for my pictures. I also don't like the jeeping right down the center, I can deal with it on the sides. I also don't like that if for some odd reason, I have missed a layout in the order it should go, I can't go back and just slide it inbetween the layouts it should go...because those layouts are now back to back, literally. But I do love the durability and spine of the CM albums.
Post-Bound - I love the Dalee brand, but they are hard to come by - usually because they are so popular they sell out quickly. I love their variety of covers, and the strength of the albums and page protectors. Downside - if you don't put spacers between the pages, then you tend to get an aligator mouth. Using the extenders and the spacers will alleviate the problem. The spines aren't the greatest, but there are other companies who've designed post bound albums to have a spine similar to CM's. I've found a way around the spine situation with my Dalee's...I hot glue the spine piece to the front and back covers - works like a charm.
I personally don't believe there is a "right" or "wrong" album to use. I've used several types and companies, whatever suited my project. I would say, experiment, you'll find one you tend to like more, but at least you'll have a working knowledge of several styles that you can use for what ever may strike your fancy.
Enjoy the journey - that's what scrapbooking is for.
Sorry I was so long winded.
