Balsa planes will not last very long, I don't know of anybody in RCCA using Balsa anymore. Most are either foamies or coro jobs.

For Open B, he flatbats, especially the black ones are probably the toughest fuse you can use and keeps the RX, battery and fuel tank protected in the likely event of a mid-air. There are quite a few people using the bats with foam wings and fiberglass spars doing very well in the standings. The Bat Trick is a popular kit that uses a black bat (http://www.hattrickrc.com)

You will probably keep more newer combat pilots if you fly SSC, than Open B. You'll do alot more flying and alot less building...

The SPADS are great starter combat planes, but the coro-wings just don't hold up like they used to...

I am a big proponent of SSC. It envolves more strategy and less lightening quick reflexes, so its more enjoyable than B class for me. While not as quick as Open B, they are far from powered gliders. You'll find your planes last ALOT longer in SSC than in Open B. You'll survive alot of midairs in SSC that would be fatal in Open B.