I started on a FireBirdII (2 channel) and quickly mod'd the tail with business cards taped to the 'ruddervators' to increase the control surface, then eventually upgraded to a speed wing, then a larger battery. I can do chandels and a sort of roll/loop thing, fly in 15 mph+ winds and ride thermals. I've spent about $300 canadian so far (base plane, 2 extra batteries, speed battery, 1 wing, 1 speedwing, 2 tails) but, I had no help in learning to fly (except reading the forums and the manaul). I could probably transition into a proper 3 channel kit plane with reusable electronics but I'm going to get an Aerobird Challenger. It's still a V-Tail but with tail mods will be a good trainer for basic areobatics. I've found that the electric, foam planes are very crash resistant and quick, cheap and easy to repair. As for battery life, it takes me 90 minutes to go through 3 batteries (lots of gliding/sailing) and if I charged the first battery while flying the other two I could spend most of the day in the air with only minimal breaks (and you don't have to buy more fuel).
Basically this kit had me out flying the day I bought it. A week later I was ready to upgrade and now that a month has passed I would be hard pressed to crash this plane. My local flying club membership is $50/year plus an AMA membership, which meant that trying to jump into GLOW right away added almost $100 to the price, plus having to beg instruction time from someone at the club, plus driving all the way across and out of town to the club. plus plus plus.