My vote for a good trainer that is also aesthetically pleasing would be the Hobbico Avistar.
Yes, it does have a semi-symetrical wing, but it will fly slow with some throttle management and it handles windy conditions much better than the typical flat bottom winged trainer.
My second choice would be a Stick.
Also, if your sure your going to stick with planks, I would consider putting a good ball bearing .46 2-stroke or equivilent sized 4-stroke engine on the plane. It will save you some money in the future when your ready to move up. Yes its too much power for most trainees but a good instructor will keep things under control.
Good luck.
James