There simply is no difference between flying gas or electro for a beginner. You can fly the same big trainer electric. Wether or not a plane is stable or sensetive to wind, has nothing to do with the engine that's in it, but it's size. There are plenty of .40 size electric engine replacements.

Gas is cheaper to start with, tho you have to take fuel costs into consideration as well. If you fly a lot (>300 flights a year) electric is even cheaper.

If i were to begin again now, I would go electric. Simply because it's cleaner, the engine doesn't quit on you and (if you fly as much as I do) it's cheaper.

It's simply not true that you can get more flying time with a gas engine. It's all a matter of how much money you got to spend on batteries.