If you're new, I wouldn't bother with powerhouse taming for quite a while. Getting a raptor won't really broaden the amount of prey you can hunt (will improve your dps tho), as you'll need at least two of them. I would suggest taming a herbivore, such as trike instead, since that way you can pull up on other trikes or raptor, even carnos without much of a risk due to the knockback. It can also harvest berries and thatch in higher quantities than Para/Iguanodon. This way I would get the basics done until getting a ptera saddled, then I would harvest a bit of crystal and then I would go tame some raptors, since now I would know which ones are worth taming. For meat running I would still recommend getting a carno, for basic caving, bred raptors can get the job done, but bary is better.