RE: Can I get away with a low wing?
You can train with a low wing sport plane, particularly if you fly with an experienced instructor on a buddy box setup. It won't be quite as self-correcting as a high wing plane, but it can be a very managable setup for a primary trainer. Many low wing planes will slow down and land as easily as most high wing trainers.
I would highly recommend the Goldberg Tiger 2 as such a low wing sport plane.
Good luck, and good shopping.