Crashem, you can go through channels pretty quick even on sport models when you get to 60 size and bigger. Here's an example of what you can do on an Ultra Stick 40, 60, or 120:

Throttle
Rudder
Elevator
Aileron1
Aileron2
Flap1
Flap2

With the 9C you can add another elevator servo if you want. All of this is done with no Y-harnesses, which opens many mixing possibilities.

Also, many planes now come set up for two elevator servos. To ultilize this you'll want a radio that can mix two servos and include a trim link. The Eclipse and 6 channel radios cannot do this. That leaves you with the 8103 and 9C. And as everyone has seen from my previous arguments in various threads, the 9C is a superior radio to the 8103.

Last summer I bought a 6XAS because I thought it would do everything I would need. Six months later I bought a 9C. I wish I had just bought the 9C in the first place.