10.6 (OS X Snow Leopard) full install has never been available as a download from Apple (although Apple's developer site must have had that available at some point years ago)
You can still order the Snow Leopard installer DVD directly from Apple. Under $20.
Here's the online Apple Store page - http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Lion is only sold by Apple as a download from the App Store, so you'd need to start with 10.6. If your computer will run something later than 10.7, you should use it. 10.7.x isn't known to be one of Apple's best.So 10.6 I believe gives you the app store. Where can I buy 10.7? I seem to be only finding 10.6 for sale?
OP asks:
"Is there a non scary place I can download a copy of the .iso?"
As mentioned above, try buying a DVD from Apple.
Then - if your Macbook doesn't have a built in DVD drive -- buy a USB CD/DVD player for about $25. It -DOES NOT- have to be an Apple-labeled one, ANY one will work.
This is probably the easiest way to do it, though it's not free.
If you want a "free copy" of 10.6, you're going to have to "go to the scary places".
I don't consider this a problem, I've had no more trouble from OS's downloaded from such places than I've had from downloading OS software from Apple. (If anything, I've had MORE trouble with "official" Apple downloads).