To the original poster, here is the real bottom line:
1. Work hard and request the community (and later the airframe) that you want to fly. While it is of some value to discuss the pros and cons of various communties with more senior aviators, your colleagues probably don't know squat. I collected a lot of bum gouge from my buds during my Navy time and wish I had sought out more seasoned, experienced opinions.
2. Accept the assignment you receive, continue to work hard, and you will be happy in your community. You will later consider these upcoming years as the best of your life. I've known, worked with, and supervised lots of former NA's who could bitch like champs about anything and everything at the drop of a dime, but I never, ever, heard one say "the Navy really screwed me over because I wanted to fly this instead of that." Grow where you are planted.
If you want to be a rotorhead, whatever... Seriously, the limited helo stick time I was able to grab in civilian life was truly a kick in the butt. I have nothing but deep respect for those guys that flew night vertical replenishment missions between ships steaming side-by-side in challenging sea conditions.
If you are considering the LE route post Navy, I would suggest keeping your eye on an Air Interdiction Agent position with CBP/Customs & Border Protection. Salary, benefits, training, job security, and retirement are all great. You will fly fixed wing as well as rotary wing, and after a few years you may have the quals and enough F/W time to be competitve for a big airline job. Beware of the maximum age for hiring - it was 36 several few years ago, but things change.
If you do go the rotary route, I would suggest you get some fixed-wing time on the side. Get a civilian MEL rating on your own dime if necessary, fly the base King Air (if those things still exist), or maybe do some instructing. After your first sea tour, consider shooting for a jet slot in the Training Command. Above all, remain rigidly flexible.