I think the moral of this story is...

1) Join the AMA & a charter club first.
2) Buy your plane and equipment next.
3) Learn to fly your plane at your club with an instructor.

If you join a club first, or at least show up at the club a few times first to get advice on what to get for a trainer and field equipment, you'll be better informed to chose a plane, engine, radio, and field equipment. You'll learn that there are "panel ready" accessories with banana plugs already installed instead of gator clips, and several other important tips. You might even find that the club has a trainer plane for newbies to use, or find that a club member is looking to sell his trainer setup cheap, and you can save some $$$...