The Venus II ARF is very nice, but if you'd really like a nice flying pattern ship on a budget, check out the Black Horse Models Bravo 303 MK II:

http://www.americanpioneerhobbies.com/bravo_mark2.html

The almost $100 price savings for the airframe would let you spend more money on a top quality engine. The Bravo 303 MK II builds a full 1 to 2 lbs. lighter than the Venus II, so the ST .90 you're considering might actually pull it around with authority.

Consider the following shopping list:

$179.99 + s&h Bravo 303 MK II ARF
$119.99 + s&h Magnum 91A XLS 2-stroke engine
$24.99 + s&h Magnum Pitts style muffler for 91A XLS

You can add any flight pack you'd like to this with good quality ball bearing servos and have a terrific pattern ship. The Hitec flight packs with the 425BB servos are awfully nice for $99.99, but you'd need to buy two extra servos. You'd have an amazing pattern ship for about $450 + s&h, assuming you already own a transmitter.