re: Got Black Ops for Christmas, n00b questions

Don't bother swapping your layout to dropshot. It's not very effective unless people are just spraying across the map. It will also take time to learn to use without being a handicap.

AK74 with a grip,
Strela3 for secondary
Flashbang
Semtex
Tactical insert helps if you keep it hidden near the middle of the map or on objective games to bounce between two spots efficiently. Motion sensor or claymore is good too. Just preference.
Ghost
Sleight of hand
Marathon

That's a good starter run and gun class to learn maps with and keep you off of spy plane. I know you don't have the ak74u yet, but the famas or Galil with silencer are good too. Try the spas12 silenced if you're good at sticking to walls and cover. If you try the spas, remember to use terrain to get close to enemies, then enjoy the hipfire kills. Steady aim is a must for that class.

Until you get the strela to shoot down things, the LAW isn't bad. Once you do get the strela you can replace ghost with scavenger/flak jacket/hardline, but you'll have to use the strela on spy planes.

For killstreaks, using spyplane is great. It helps you learn situational awareness as you play and provides more radar advantages by showing people. Counter spyplane is HUGE though. It is the only counter to a blackbird, and it enables you to negate the need for silencer or ghost.

You'll no doubt find things I just said that you don't like, so feel free to try things out. It'll make you better to mix it up.

The only classified guns that are amazing are the g11 on medium to large maps, and the stoner. Neither are very easy to learn run and gun with though.

The ak47 you get at 38 and it's my favorite to play aggressively.

Open sights are great once you get accustomed, and you save an attachment.

Goodluck.