Touring ski recommendation (for a noob)?

At  6 ft there's no way you belong on the short boards.  And, seriously, put 3-pins on them ~ with minimal technique you can turn them just fine, alpine style, sans heels, and with enough boot, you will soon tele, and know why you were born.  Under no circumstance mount those skis with the NNN or SNS systems, unless you plan to ski with a scarf and carry patee`for lunch.

I don't agree with the statement of "under no circumstance mount those skis with NNN",
Last Spring a friend of mine and I skied the whole Sourdough Range from Buck Creek to the White River campground in three days. He had the Alpinas (a little beefier than the lites) with NNN and carried a 50+ pound pack on some rugged steep terrain. Granted I thought he was pushing it a little, but he managed to ski down 30+ degree slopes and set a skinless track (at low angle) up some steep terrain. Never put skins on once. Granted he is really good skier, but it can be done without the patee` and scarf.

Get the larger ski, I would even go in the mid 170 range if you are 6'.

I DO agree that you would have more control over the ski on 3pin, but there is more freedom of movement with the NNN. Like Dynafit binding vs Fritschi.
If you are just meadow skipping it should not make a big difference on the binding. I think the Karhu gear is just as good as Alpina and not as stiff in flex.
The problem is IMOO is getting a ski that suits the need, there are so many touring skis that have really gotten wider shovels and such for better float. But the bigger shovels create more resistance on the climb are more difficult with the larger sidecut on side hills, but are nicer on the way down.
Ah...another decision.

Joe, I hear you.  But the reason I poo- pooed the NNN et al  is the weak choices for boots suited for the downhill.  A well techniqued skiier can pull it off, with thanks to that central rib, but he'll usually still lament the lack of stiffness in the shoe.  The 3-pin offers much broader choice, and as you say, control.

If it's about the down, it's about the boots.  go 3-pin.

Now I am curious about the boots you are talking about. Is it just excursions that people use for downhill activities on these type of skis or are there other lighter boots that are suited for downhill? Excursions are still heavier than many AT boots.

I guess I do see a lot of Excursions out there, and I have a pair, but they don't fit me well.  I prefer some of the old leather ones like Merrill, which give maybe 80% of the support of the Ex. while providing a much nicer touring flex.  IMHO they offer considerably better support than either of my patee` day shoes (top end) for the SNS and NNN setups that I occasionally take out.  Most days, however, I drive the Terrains or xcd Guides in front country bowls, trails and clearcuts with T-2's or T-1's, which aren't much heavier than the excursions (thermo liners are lighter on all counts). 
A fun resort day can be had with good boots on top of a light and quick pattern base board like the Terrains, lapping a favorite mogul pitch or avoiding the lift line.  If it's deep, maybe the Guides come out.  Either way it's great not fiddling with skins for short vertical laps.

Ok so you were talking about leather type boots. Are the wider skis like guides too much ski with leather boots for someone with lame telemark skills to mostly alpine style turn with?

I think it's asking a lot of a leather shoe to drive the Guides, which are a lot bigger I think than any other pattern base out there.  Like I said, I use mostly T-2 or 1's or sometimes the ex.  IMO, leather is manageable on the Terrains in part because they are shorter and have a substantial sidecut, and again, they flex nicely which is a front country virtue, I guess.

But i take plastic when the day is about the down.  The nice thing about the 3-pin, besides weight and cost, is the wide range of shoes it accomodates.