you could solder the deans for the brushed motor to the esc. but you can't use a deans for the brushless to brushless controller since there are three leads. but i'm sure you can find another way to make it also reusable for other planes.

anyway, nice guy... $25 for a brushless and controller is a bargain. personally, since he says that it's 400 size, i'd just go for the brushless/lipo set up from the beginning and just fly it with the instructor for a while. usually 400 size brushless is significantly more powerful than its brushed counter part, which is very nice when you're a beginner.