I'm not sure height matters that much for choosing a string instrument. My kids are very tall, but they chose the string they wanted to play.
I couldn't agree more on the first year of violin vs cello or piano. I was *not* prepared for the sounds from the violin in the first year and cello just doesn't make that screechy sound! Piano also sounds pretty great immediately.
We've found it more difficult to find good cello teachers. There are many more violinists and violin teachers than there are cellists.
