RE: Radio choice
A radio that allows you to fly further than you can see is going to make it awful hard to find the pieces of the model. Better it drops within sight so you can collect the salvagable bits. ;-)
I'm a fan of Futaba - but the main reason I got started there was that was what most of the instructors at our club used and it make it easy to get on a buddy box. Sucks to show up with an odbball radio set that no one can help you with.