I disagree that adjustable declination is a necessary feature in a compass.

It's nice but, really, necessary for a beginner?

Knowing what the declination for the area is can be important but even that isn't truly necessary if you're using catch features and other orienteering-style methods. Surveying, yes, rambling the woods - not so much.

The USGS has made their topo maps into downloadable PDFs for free from their website. This means that you can get the study material for your favorite area at no cost and study them on your computer. I suppose sections can also be printed out (I haven't tried that trick yet).