I have had my 2 iguanas for 4years now, since they were babies. I handle them daily and give them a lot of attention and although both will eat from your hand if you hold food towards them, my male can be very aggresive with tail whipping and not easy to handly.If you come to close to him, he will start whipping you until you start touching him then he will calm down and allow you to stroke him. My female on the other hand is a dream she will jump on you as soon as you open the cage and has never bit/ or whipped me, she can be a bit hyper but is super chilled. I was called by a friend about a month ago to catch an iguana on a busy street in durban (couldnt believe it) and it was another male, and this guy is crazy (biting, whiping even rolling) so I have given him a seperate set up and he eats and is wounds on his face are healing well but he is barely handable. So yes I believe that the amount of effort you put you in you will get out but males do seem to be a lot more aggresive (from my own experience). I have even read articles ( i Dont know if its true) about iguanas going mad if a women comes near them during their time of month (
http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/season.html). They do get quite large, eat like trucks and their nails can hurt quite alot but they stil make awesome pets! If you have had expierience with keeping lizards you shouldnt have to hard of a time although I wont compare them to beardies at all.