ORIGINAL: petec
Use the Venus to get your feet wet. If you decide you like Pattern then you can look at other airframes.
I'm sure someone has probably done an electric conversion on the Venus II if you want to go that route otherwise go find a suitable engine of your liking and fly.
How many of us started Pattern with a Venus II?
I learned how to do slow rolls and 4-point rolls with a Venus II. Did a couple thousand rolls to the right ("left rudder... push... right rudder") and then a couple thousand to the left. No better way to train your thumbs to follow your eyes without checking in with the brain for permission.
Definitely all you need to be competitive in Sportsman and Intermediate, and maybe even Advanced. Though I never got to try it in Advanced because of a mid-air that completely destroyed it.
I had an OS 1.20 4-stroke on mine, with a Perry oscillating pump and fuel tank on CG. But I'm all electric now.