The last statement there is telling. Most second planes are only 4 or 5 channel setups too, so extra channels aren't needed. It really depends on how fast you plan to move in the hobby. "Second plane" level flyers can keep you busy for years if you want, or you can spend several hours at the field with a big budget and wind up wanting some complicated stuff in short order. If you look at what was available 3 years ago and what's available now at the same prices, investing in a higher end setup doesn't make sense unless you'll actually need it soon.