I've got to say it,
Brushless is not as expensive as you may think.
I'm also a recent "convert" and if you can handle a bit of DIY,
you CAN get into brushless for as little as $70ish.
can you say re-built brushless CDRom?
http://homepages.enterprise.net/jayjay/cdrom_motors.htm
I'm having so much fun with 'em, I ALMOST spend as much time building them
as I do flying.