I would agree with Gautsch here - if you look at it from the characteristics' point of view: As Deutschschweizer, we have two past tenses less - no imperfect, no past perfect - than whoever speaks German - and, with the exception of a few remaining pronouns, two cases less, no genitive, no accusative. If you look at it from the point of view of evolving languages, Swiss German has stopped in its evolution at the point where Middle German was - just as you could say of Scots - especially the Doric that is spoken in the Aberdeen area - that it has stopped at Middle English evolution level. Just two points, and there are more.

As to the question of what language - coming from the outside, I would prefer learning standard German, so at least I can read the newspaper and understand what the authorities write to me.

When I was in Aberdeen in 1980 I was glad I spoke English first, even if I did take the odd month before I actually understood an Aberdonian asking me: 'foo're ye deein?'

just my two rappens ...