I started wit a Next Star and believe me it is worth every penny.
I never hooked up the auto pilot. The thing flies like a real airplane,
IE flies heavy. As for aerobatics all positive g maneuvers are easy,
loops, rolls, cuban eights, even vertical rolls with a push over on top.

It doesn't really like inverted altho you can fly around inverted.
Best to roll out of inverted flight as it will not push out.

As your experience grows you can remove the speed brakes and wing cuffs
to increase difficulty.

My instructor pilot was really impressed with it and he has flown
hundreds of planes.