My first plane (very first) was a firebird commander. It was in stock at my LHS, CHEAP ($117 including tax, even includes AA batteries, NiMH flight pack and charger), and they stock every replacement part for it (and i do mean EVERY part). It is one tough plane, mine has hit the ground in an adverse manner more times than a frog's tail and still flies like a champ. (mostly due to me trying things beyond the capability of the plane, hehe)
It is really really really easy to fly, will take off of a smooth paved strip in about 30 feet (full battery), is easy to land on its wheels (touch and goes are fun)...but it won't teach you a whole lot about flying a bigger glow trainer. Not impossible to fly a glow trainer after you master the commander, but difficult. Also it does NOT like wind...

It wasn't a waste of money, per se, because it let me actually get in the air cheaply (to let me know if I was really interested enough in the hobby to buy a more expensive setup), but now I wish i had sprung for a GP PT-Electric or something from GWS.