wsudrick,

Talk about a "loaded" thread. This is like going to a truck convention and asking if you should buy a ford, chevy, or dodge!!!
And as to wanting something that is going to last in your piloting career, a 6ch is going to be outgrown pretty quick. Eat a few less lunches and candy bars and save up the money for a good 8 or 9 channel. You don't have to get TOP of the line, but you will eventually want something like a Futaba 9C, JR 8103, or an airtronics RD8000. These may seem a bit pricey, but if you plan on being in this hobby for a while, you will collect many aircraft, which will pare the price of the radio down. And, having the extra features will almost be a necessity with more advanced planes & helis.