For a non-regular smoker, I'd definately recommend a joint over a bong, unless very, very small cones are packed. A bong hits so hard because generally, the smoker is inhaling hard and fast, thus receiving a large amount of smoke that goes deep into their lungs. Its a quick, fluent movement, kind've designed to 'punch' the cone.
Whereas with a joint, you generally take a slow, soft pull, and then pass it around. There may be a lot more matter used when rolling a joint compared to packing a cone, but if you put the same amount of weed as a decent cone, and put it in the end of a joint, you probably won't be able to inhale it all. For starters, theres no water, so the heat alone will hurt your throat.
Are these joints you're smoking fat? Try rolling your own nice and small joint. One tally-ho, and use enough weed so once rolled its roughly half a centimetre in width (5mm). Light this up, and have 2 reasonable deep but very slow and soft drags. Then put it out. Wait about half an hour, and don't sit and analyse, just play a video game, or talk with mates. You can continually add to your dose at any time. On the other hand, get a bong with a middle sized chamber, and have a cone no larger than a cubic centimetre. The smaller, the better, you can always have another one.