RE: what was your first radio system?
After 20 years of flying control line, in late 1970 I bought a Kraft series 70 single stick radio. I had to convert it to left handed myself with the help of the local guru.
I saw that single stick was going nowhere, so in 1975, or maybe 76, I bought a Kraft Southeast Super Sport 2 stick and converted it to lefty style myself.
In the past several years, I just order a JR in mode 3 from Horizon.