Not sure what I want any more

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I guess I don't expect to get a definitive answer here of exactly what to do, I don't think there is one, maybe all I want is to talk to people, get some outside perspective on this. Or even just have a place to write down what I'm thinking, sometimes that helps me.

I've been doing this 'dating' thing for about a year now, so I'm still pretty new to it, and rather lacking in experience, my relationships to this point have been short, and rather unfulfilling but yet for the most part better than being on my own. But now, I think I've met someone I really like, and have spent a lot of time with for a few months, so I'm pretty sure we get on ok and everything. There are problems, though.
Over the course of these few months, we have gotten quite close, I would consider us friends, and it seems he does as well, and so there is the question of whether we want to risk damaging that friendship if things don't work out. that's the main reason he's given for not taking things much further yet, though we are very slowly moving that way, it seems. What I'm more worried about, though, is his feelings towards his ex, they were together most of a year, and from the sounds of it had a pretty wonderful time of it, but then broke up only recently. They both still have feelings for each other, and he thinks he can still fix his mistakes and tempt this ex back, in spite of the fact that they've moved on and found someone else already. So, he's both waiting around hoping to get back what he once had, and talking about how wonderful it was when they were together, so I suspect even if I could convince him to move on and find someone else, such as myself, I would be constantly compared to this past relationship. But yet, for all that, I feel like he really is something special.
Which brings me to my other issue, the one that's been particularly bothering me lately. I can wait for him to get things sorted out, and do my best as a potential partner and all the rest, but what I can't do is go back in time and change potential mistakes. I don't know if I want to be with him, right now or even at all. As I said before, I'm new to dating, and lacking experience. But I am sure this guy is someone I'd want to stay with, not going to let him go if at all possible... but, am I ready for that sort of commitment? There's still plenty of other things I want to do, with other people, I want to try things out, experiment, and so on, rather than settling down. There's actually a couple of people I have something of an interest in, but this means potentially entering into a relationship with the intention that it ends after a certain time, which, though it makes sense to me, doesn't seem like the sort of thing that people do. And it means taking the risk that this friend of mine will still be available when I'm ready for something more serious. I think he might, given how sure he seems to be about waiting for his ex to realise splitting up was a mistake, but maybe not.
I don't know what I'm going to want, what would be best for me now, or in the long run, if only I could try things and then go back and try something else instead, but the world doesn't work like that. Do I want this guy at all, would it go well for me? Is he worth the waiting around for him to forget this ex, and the effort of convincing him it'll work? Or should I forget him and explore other interests, I have enough regrets of things not done as it is. How will I feel in a few years time, looking back on what I've done?

Do not get caught up in this guy you really like if he still wants his ex back. He is not over her yet. Developing a relationship with someone who isn't over his ex is not a good idea. Period. He is not emotionally available for another relationship yet.

You say there are other people you're interested in. Try asking them out, or at least trying to talk to them more. Going out somewhere needn't be a nominal 'date'-you can just refer to it as 'hanging out' or 'having lunch'. And it doesn't have to mean anything more than what it is. You don't have to marry or commit anything to anyone you go out with at this stage. And yes, you might go into a relationship that ends at some point. When you get together with someone, you don't know if you'll still be together in a week, a month, or a year. You may or may not be, and there is nothing necessarily wrong with breaking up after a shorter period of time. You don't know, and I don't think you ever can. Someone perfect for you right now might no longer be right a few months from now. Someone wrong for you right now might be better a few weeks from now. A great deal depends on chance and timing.

So I think you should just try going out with the other people you're interested in, without necessarily trying to predict whether or not it can develop into a viable relationship. You can go out with a few people at a time. This way you can date casually and get to know people a bit more. There will probably be some people you don't want to go out on another date with, and that's okay as well. And try not to obsess over Still After His Ex Guy. I think it would be a lot better for you to try casually dating a few people than to continue wanting someone who isn't available. It might be worth it to take a few chances with others.