You want to do web design? If so, vector graphics are a bit more secondary for the web because the majority of the images on the web need to be raster images (jpg, gif, others...) Sure ou can learn vector graphics for illustrations or logos, but if the objective of the work is for the web only, you're better with software like Photoshop. It's easier (in my opinion) to design websites with it than Illustrator (or other vector applications, but I believe Illustrator is the best, and I think Freehand doesn't exist anymore) But I think Fireworks can be a good solution also, although I see it more like a replacement for Imageready since the Adobe/Macromedia merge.