RE: first glider
Yep, a Radian would be a wise way to go.
Going with rudder and elevator instead of ailerons may see like going backwards if you're already flying succesfully with ailerons. But when you manage to find thermals and you're out at a long distance where you are having trouble trying to keep up with which way the model is pointed the extra stability will prove to be a big advantage. Simply finding and learning to ride lift is hard enough without adding to the workload with flying more controls than you need for now.