I do indeed play continuo on lute, theorbo, and baroque guitar. I'm not suggesting any guitarist can just pick up a theorbo and play any chord on it, but you have to admit the shapes are the same. I don't think the reentrant tuning is really a concern because in practice you end up taking the bassline down an octave half the time anyway (otherwise you'd almost never get to play the long strings!).
You all make excellent points, and without knowing more about new boy and what he wants we can't really settle the discussion. I disagree that theorbo players of old started with the lute. Castaldi talks about how hardly anyone at all (except Piccinini) still played the lute in his day. I sincerely do not think it is harder to play. Another problem is that renaissance lute players who take up theorbo often carry over their thumb under technique. This includes some of the best lute players in the world. That problem would be circumvented by going straight to theorbo. Really it all depends on what kind of music one wants to do. I agree with Roman's original assertion that the best and easiest solo music is for baroque lute. Besides, aren't the Bach "lute suites" all classical guitarists ever want to play anyway? If you want to play with other people a theorbo would be best. An amateur who takes up theorbo will soon have plenty of opportunities to play in public (at least that's the way it is in New York). The advantage is that the music you play with other people is generally easier, better, and more rewarding. For versatility, I suppose you are all right that he should get a renaissance lute, which works great for continuo, or solo, or chamber music in tablature. I do think it's harder switch techniques entirely (to thumb under). I should add for the record that I switched from guitar to renaissance lute. When I took it up, I really meant to continue playing guitar, but I found the solo repertoire so absorbing that I had to learn to play thumb under and give up the guitar. I think this is the usual way for lute players. On the other hand, I know many guitarists who take up theorbo in order to accompany operas and are happy to do both. If new boy wants to continue playing guitar, he should take that into consideration. Best, Charlie To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
