I agree Leopards make great first time lizards... they were my first reptiles.
I do think cornsnakes are easier though because you dont have to deal with crickets.
For my leopard gecko setup I tiled the tank floor with travertine-looking tile to create the 'desert sand floor' look. It was awesome and super easy to wipe clean. Leopards will poop in one spot so I just put a paper towel down in thier "bathroom" area.
As far as breeders I got mine from a lady out in Mission, she had tons of geckos and they were all really health. I think she did bearded dragons as well. Rene that works at J&L also breeds Leopards and crested geckos(she is on the board).
-Diana