I've been flying mode 1 in the states for 25 years. Every radio I've bought (except my first one) I've had to switch over. It's just a matter of swapping a spring and lever arm from one side, and a ratchet clip from the other side.

When I bought my first radio (1977), you could get them either way, and as a "know nothing" teenager, I took the hobby store's advice and went mode one since I'm left handed. It's what I learned...got good with, and still use.

Here is my advise after all these years:
It really doesn't matter which way you learn, as you will get used to anything. What matters the most is what mode does most of the people in your area fly! As you get better, eventually you will help new pilots, you will help train, or you will want to check fly a mate's airplane, or let a buddy fly one of your planes.

This is something I really miss in this hobby, as I watch my best friend training new pilots and check flying other's new planes, and when he has a great flying plane he hands off the Tx to a buddy and says "here, check it out!"

I can't do that because I fly a different mode. I've lived in the same city for 22 year and have only seen one other person flying mode 1. Several years ago I attempted to "switch"...spent many hours on a computer sim, and gave it my best shot at the field. It was too late. My brain just couldn't do it after all these years of "naturally" flying mode one. Not only did it religate a very experienced pilot back to the stages of a "trainee"...but it also started messing with my brain when I did indeed fly one of my planes mode 1 again.

I finally gave up on the idea of switching, because I didn't like the feeling of being uncomfortable and unsafe. So I'm just going to have to miss out on being an instructor for my club or flying my buddies planes...unless of course someone from Australia moves to Kansas

Go with what everyone else is flying...you wont regret it. Not only that, it will be much easier to find an instructor