jbarnes, welcome to the hobby! You have already made the best decision you could have made by joining & reading RCU!!!
The R/C beginner steps should read:
Join RCU
Join a local club
find instructor
buy plane
be addicted for life

IMO your making the right choice going with an ARF. You will certainly have a greater understanding of what makes your plane work & you'll have better equipment for buying more planes in the future.
I bought the Nexstar ARF & absolutely love it. I never did put any of the speed brakes & droops on but it was still a docile flyer.
As long as you have a good instructor it really doesn't matter which trainer you have.

Good luck!