I second this thread. I first got involved in the board games back in my college days. I then purchased and played several of the variants over the years, though they’ve printed so many variants that I can hardly keep up. I then saw the Naval Miniatures in the store a few years back and after researching them, decided to buy into the game. I haven’t regretted it at all. Much of it comes down to your situation in life and taste in gaming. My mind is probably more geared toward the strategical complexity of the board games. On the other hand, the time I actually have to play is more appropriate for the miniatures games.
If you’re at all interested in the intricacies of history, and many A&A players either start off so or quickly become so, then the miniatures are a great way to get enhance your historical appreciation.