I would say that opinions vary significantly (although nearly everyone agrees the series MM1-8 at least are great games); recommend playing until you reach about Level 7-10 of each of the following:

1) MM2 (more user-friendly interface than MM1)
2) MM4-5 (they combine into one game)
3) MM7 (or MM6 if you only have the 6-pack..but MM7 has a smaller...but still large...game world so it can be a bit more newbie-friendly unless you have a lot of time available)

Then, go the rest of the way with the one you enjoy the most.

That lets you play a part of each, and then you have related games for whichever style you enjoy most:

MM1-2 are similar
MM3-5 are similar
MM6-8 are similar

Really though, all of them are great games. As long as you pick one of the games from each of 3 categories and go through the early game of each (up to level 7-10 for your party), you will then be in a good position to choose which style of gameplay you enjoy most. For some people I might leave off MM1-2 as recommendations, but with your RPG history you will likely not be intimidated by it. (Personally, I love MM2...partly nostalgia though because it was my intro to the series.)

Also, I should add that the CRPG Addict has played through MM1-3 so far and blogged about them. I do *NOT* recommend you read all of the blog posts (there are spoilers), but you could read the ratings post, or the first couple of introductary posts, to see if those first two series (MM1-2 and the style of MM3-5) appeal to you.

If you're going to use the default party for MM7, at least change the voice of the Sorcerer; her default voice is one of the most annoying in the game.

And yet I can't imagine taking her portrait without using that voice.

Better not to take that portrait, then. The other female elf sounds much better, IMO, and looks just as good.

Oh c'mon, the "It's just a cut, but I need it fixed!" voice is just so over the top that my 6-year-old (at the time) daughter joked around about it and couldn't help but laugh! That is part and parcel of the Might and Magic humor...but I guess some people just don't want the vocal reinforcement. :)