Yep, you'll probably sink close to $400 into a M.U.S. by the time you buy the motor, esc, servos, reciever, and a couple of lipos. The good news is that this plane can do way more than a typical nitro trainer. There isn't much building to do to speak of. It literally bolts together. The only thing you need to glue is the firewall because it comes with two different firewalls, one for outrunner motors and the other for geared inrunners. You can probably fly it the same day you buy it.

I really don't know of any RTFs that I think you would be happy with. These el-cheapo planes usually are so anemic that they will only loop after a dive to build up speed. On the other hand, the M.U.S. with a good brushless motor and lipo will make the typical nitro trainer look anemic by comparison.