I got my honeybee for a little less than $100 on ebay. I plan on selling it on ebay after I get my Trex put together (there's a lot of parts in that sucker). I'm not rushing it though. I guess it really depends on what you consider cheap, and if a difference of $50 makes something expensive or bot. I think the advice on the Blade CP might be the way to go for you.

My logic was that if I have fun with a cheap-o-fixed-pitch-almost-impossible-to-hover-copter then I'll like the hobby enough to get a Trex with real electronics.

there's tons of threads about the Blade CP right now. Maybe you should read up on it and go from there...