That's a hard question to answer really.

What do you like? They are 2 different beasts. My recommendation is to get a roughly 2m imac plane and go to an imac contest and also go to a pattern contest. Maybe do a few till you see what suits you best. I think you will find either quite fun.. Sure, we want to push pattern on you, but you won't stay if you don't like it. So try both. Or at least attend both..

Pattern is expensive for top dollar birds. But so is Imac.. I choose to fly pattern because it not only challenges me, but it makes me a better, more precise 3d pilot and I enjoy it. Not saying Imac couldn't do that. We have different rules...

Chris