To answer the original post.
Glow is cheaper up front and allows for more flying time because of the ease of just refueling and flying over and over again. Most clubs have lots of glow pilots to help you out. Glow is loud, messy and you need a few accessories up front to get going that makes starting them easier. You don't have to have an electric starter. You can make a igniter out of a clothespin and a AA battery. A gallon of glow fuel goes a long way in a 40 sized engine. The smell is great
As Omaha stated electrics require expensive batteries to fly that require charging, and cooling time that seriously limits your flight times. Unless you can spend for a bunch of batteries. Also batteries even if not used deteriorate over time. To lengthen their useful life you have to have an expensive cycler/discharger/conditioner. Electrics are cool, clean and quiet. You will need a charger for what ever type of batts you are using. They range from a cheap wall charger to a couple hundred bucks.
IF you are just starting out though with nothing. IMO I would get one of the RTF packages. You just about get the airframe for free with the cost savings. You get an engine or motor, radio, servos, receiver, batteries, prop, etc...
You can get the Towerhobbies trainer RTF for 225 bucks with a discount code. Thats darn cheap.
You can get the Electricstar from Hobbico for 400 thats 40 sized with brushless motor and a digital radio. Thats not bad either. It uses nimh batts which are a lot cheaper than lipos.
Build your Spadet or Debonair so when your trainer crashes( IT WILL ) you will be ready to go for more flying in no time at all. You can rob all the parts off your trainer to finish building it
I've crashed my Spadet numerous times and she is still flyable. Every time I crash a Ba$%W plane it takes forever to glue it and patch it back together. Plastic just takes the noobie abuse so much better. Nice thing about Spads is how quick it is to repair or replace things. You can even make several types of wings for the same fuse.
There is something to say about having a plane that only cost you 20 bucks to build that you can fix in a hour or 2 for a couple dollars. It doesn't lessen the knee knocking, but it sure doesn't hurt near as much when you hear the crunch.
Good luck with what ever you decide. I hope I was able to help.