Chad, basically you are asking our opinion on 3D vs Scale vs Warbird vs ETC? A better questions is what do YOU want to do? You seem pretty much all over the place, which is normal when starting out. Eventually you will realize that there is only so much time and money. Too many planes, not enough time even with unlimited funds. Many (most?) of us eventually migrate to a specific type of flying, be is racing, scale, aerobatics, etc. Not because one is better than the other, or is a better route to go as you put it, but because that is what we personally enjoy the most. This is not to say a serious IMAC pilot won't own and fly a warbird, just that is unlikely because to excel at either (awesome scale warbird building or competitive IMAC pilot), it takes a large time investment. My suggestion is to go to various events (scale, IMAC, Pattern, etc.) even if just as a spectator, eventually you will discover what you want to try next. Cheers.