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Hello,
Firstly, the Tau codex probably IS coming out early next year, or at least in the first half, therefore there will be a big growth in everything: models, tournament value and price hikes. So if you're going to start the basics, start now, because I doubt they'll kick out the XV-8s and the Fire Warriors, which are pretty much the basic units.
Also, don't dismiss Tau play-ability. They can have mechanized Infantry, just in smaller quantities, they have a lot of deepstriking power and you need to play them moving. You can't, repeat CAN'T have a 'static' Tau gunline. You can have one or two units that are static, but if the rest of the stuff isn't moving, then they'll quickly get pinned down somewhere and die. The Tau don't have the firing capacity of the IG, but they can put a lot of hurt on a unit with their S 5 AP 5 basic rifles.
Base for any tactics:
Static firing line: this is manly Kroot or allied IG detachments.
Moving units: Fire Warriors and XV-8 suits.

Also, this is a very cheesy list:
Farsight, 20 other XV-8s and twelve FW in two six-man, no upgrade squads, is a very powerful but very cheesy. AND if you get stuck against Orks, BONUS!