All the 9C's can be switched from PPM to PCM. Uses same TX module, it's changed in the menus.
Nice thing about buying a top of the line radio right off the bat is (and I don't mean to jinx you here, sorry!) if you decide you're not going to stay with the hobby, you have a better chance of recovering most of your investement.
Whatever radio you get though, try and stay out of the end point adjustments and sub-trims, set up your plane mechanically first, as close as possible, then use radio setup to fine tune it. I know that's been mentioned once or twice already, but it's important. If you do take off with the wrong model selected, and it's happened, you have a better chance of surviving the incident if your controls are mechanically close on all your models, as your basic trim setting will be closer. The only EPA's I have set right now are for the throttle, as I couldn't get it to one extreme or the other without binding a servo. Oh yeah and setting sub-trims on the Slow Stick, but the horns wouldn't go on the servo's straight at neutral.

But for a final suggestion, go to your LHS, make the guy take out the radios you're interested in, and play with them for a little bit. See which one fits your hands, feels natural, work with the programming a little bit, before you make your final choice! I was going to buy a 6exa, but thought the 7c's programming was easier, then got to looking at the 9c and decided it's menus were the easiest yet. I put off groceries and diapers to get it, but sometimes you gotta make the hard decisions.

Good luck with your shopping!

Andy