Lord don't play either of these ridiculously overthoughtout styles. Everyone and their parakeet knows how to counter them and they're prepared to the hilt to demonstrate it. Here's an novelty: play uniquely and really express your ownself rather than rehash alredy played games and booklearned redundancy. Honestly, playing "the best" first move (pounding fist on the table) is not the best strategy. Play the Grob, for example (just an example, it doesn't need to turn into a Grob-bash forum, it is just a specific example), lull them into a false sense of security, for when they laugh and let down their guard, their overconfidence sinks their ship. Playing the obvious "proper" (snobbish) way (either d4 or e4) is akin to the Revolutionary War British walking in file asking to be mowed down by American guerillas. Make them think from move one; folks playing this sport are not prepared for this and are relying on their memorization skills to take them into move 10 before they wish to start thinking. When a question is structured in duality (d4 or e4), the entire point is missed and as such the ultimate answer is "neither." This way is what Buddhists call the Third Way.
I think this may be a bit too much of a "don't follow the trend" hipster type of post. Don't play 1.e4 or d4 because both are "too mainstream." I mean seriously, make them think from move 1? Why not make them think from move... I don't know, 5? There doesn't seem to be a huge difference. I think it's also a bit too much to suggest that it's snobbish. Being snobbish and following standards are two different things.
I mean, I understand the sentiment of " you have more choices than e4 and d4 as opening moves," but, I think the game always comes down to who has mastered more of chess or is mentally tougher than some advanced knowledge. I think that this could start from move 1 or move 25, but at our level it doesn't matter. I do believe, however, that it is easier to learn 1.e4 and 1.d4 positions and thereby increase chess understanding as opposed to winging it with something else.
I think the real danger is that the weird move leads to a normal position that the player can't play because he was too busy trying to be original.
also to optimissed, thats my bad, I was just upset because I didn't think of the obvious fact that the draws do matter.