Pimsleur is a great start to any language because it goes extremly slow and breaks down pronunciations syllable by syllable. It probably wouldn't be a good time investment to do all of their courses in a given language (they typically have 3 - 4 levels, each with thirty 30 minute lessons, so that's 45 - 60 hours learning a mere 400 - 500 words and grammatical patterns that may just reach the lower intermediate level). But for drilling the sound of the language into your brain and getting your pronunciation up to snuff, they are excellent. Also, due to the way it introduces and continuously reinforces new words and grammar, along with demanding you to recall and produce the language, ensures you will remember everything you learn in one of their courses... probably forever.
For most people, the backbone of your early learning should be a textbook for its structured curriculum. Use supplements to augment your abilities and maintain interest. Supplements include: podcasts, tutoring (italki or in person), graded readers, memrise (wanakini might be your equivalent?), heisig, anki/SRS, grammar books, etc. You don't necessarily need a traditional textbook series -- something like assimil is quite good, particular for autodidacts (warning: some assimil's are known to be shitty, so look into the Japanese one before you start it). The point is to follow a structured approach so you learn the fundamentals of the language (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) to an upper beginniner/lower intermediate level, so you won't have any serious gaps in your abilities. At that point, you'll be equipped to branch out into different areas (like doing the crazy program I am an expert outlined 10 - 20 pages ago).
Unfortunately, at least 50 - 100 hours of learning a language for the first time is spent learning how to learn a language, period. Everyone has different preferences, so the advice you'll receive is going to be highly variable, but I think someone like you who has stopped and started several times would benefit from a textbook of some sort, whether it's one designed for the classroom or one like assimil that's made for autodidacts.
