I was always going to go with the cloth nappies because my three sisters and I were all brought up wearing cloth. In fact, we thought it was odd when we saw people using disposables. Mind you, that was over 20 years ago and disposables were considered pretty crappy by way of absorbtion and comfort back then. I think they were also pretty expensive.
Anyway, upon speaking to many new Mums about the whole issue, I was pretty much talked out of bothing with cloth nappies (for similar reasons discussed above). I am not ruling it out completely though! I still intend to learn how to fold and put on a cloth nappy and I have a few at the ready. However, it's going to be more as a back-up rather than an alternative. I have more than enough newborn disposables (probably too many) as they were given to me or I bought them months ago. I will do as others have said and use disposable for the first few weeks then experiment a bit.
I do worry about the environment but, like others have mentioned, cloth nappies mean running the washing machine and dryer more often so is it any different? My location means that I would have to use the dryer - the nappies won't dry in time on the line or the clothes horse during our cold and wet winters. If I was living up north, it might be whole different story!

Each to their own I say! I personally think if you can go with cloth and it works for you, good on you! It's just not everyone's cup of tea