My "First" plane needed 5 channels PTS P-51. My second seven, Funtana S90. Neither are expensive planes.

This has nothing to do with a "big budget", nor "complicated stuff".

Rather that multi-channel mixing permits you to save money on things like MatchBoxes, servo syncronizers, etc.

Anyone who sticks with it long enough to certifiy will soon be looking for a second and third plane usually very shortly after they solo.

Since you get the most bang for the buck with a computer controlled TX, the wisest investment is to get a good one that will suffice for use years from the onset.

Even if you don't need it up front, you will have the use of a quality device during the start, and should you elect to get out, you'll be selling off something everyone WANTS as opposed to those $40.00 4-5 channel ( ahem ) "bargains" which everyone is trying to get rid of.