I have an A-10 (actually, 2 now, the second is still in the box). I like the plane a lot, but it's not a beginners plane at all. In "stock" configuration it doesn't have much power (depends on the batteries), and it's actually rather fragile.

The PT-40 is an excelent plane. There are lots of other great trainers out there as well, but the PT-40 is just as good as any of them. I happen to like the Alpha, but unless you already have JR gear, I wouldn't go that route. Instead, I'd get a second radio that matched what you already have (assuming what you have is narrow band, etc), so you can trade off using a buddy cord if necessary.

For slow flight, the sig LT-40 is hard to beat. I haven't seen a Nextstar in person yet, but I hear good things about it.