I have played a little with a pre-release version of this radio.  It has features in line with the top end of the JR/Futaba radios.  The programming is surely up to the task of the others, and would take care of even the most demanding pattern competitors.  The case felt good in my hands, and the gimbals were nice and smooth, but it was using the stock spring tensions, I like them much stiffer.  In the end, whether this radio turns out to be a bargain will depend on quality issues like dependability, and radio link quality, that won't be known until it has been in the hands of many users over a good period of time.  I really liked the programming features, and hope everything else lives up to expectations.