well, if you've got 500 worst case senario... you may also look into a Trex (although that wont give you any money for replacement parts), they have a Trex 450 at helihobby.com for 500, that would be a nice beginner and would take you all the way. It's also good quality and nearly every LHS stocks parts for them


look at T-Rex 450S Spectrum Package on http://www.helihobby.com/html/trex_helicopter.html

i agree on the coax, very easy to pick up, fun to fly inside, not very comtrolable outside if there is much of any wind, and for alot of people easy to get bored and want to move on (although there is a big following now that is upgrading the heck out of these and having alot of fun with them).

As far as the 300 micro size like the blade cp and the axe cp, I also agree, they are a bit of a handful to learn on (I learned on a blade cp pro), have expensive replacement parts, and have a motor driven tail, which can take you a ways, but a belt or shaft driven tail is a better idea. If you want to be able to fly in the house, the 300 sized heli's are probably what you are going to want to stick with, a 450 or bigger heli would probably be too big for most houses.