Thank you for the Welcome note. Very nice.
As for looking beyond my training... I really don't have much choice if I'm ever going to get my license. I cannot solo or do my checkride in the Cessna, since I'm going for Sport Pilot (limit of 1320 lbs / 600Kg). I can only do those in a light sport aircraft, which I cannot find near me. So unless I'm content to do dual-instruction forever, I need to do something.
So far I've flown Cessna 172's (too heavy for Sport Pilots), a J-3 Cub (which I could legally fly, but it's several hours drive from my home), a Remos G3 (which I could also solo in legally, except someone ran that one out of fuel and crashed it), and an Ercoupe 415-C (legal for me, but with no rudder control that would be all if could legally fly if I do my checkride in that). So it's a challenge, to be sure.
Next week I will be looking at an Avid Mk-IV with a Rotax 582 motor. Nice airplane, and nearly within my budget. But it's been in storage for 3 years, so I'm a little apprehensive about the condition of the motor. Plus, it's a "silver head" 582, which has a reputation of not being a long-lived or reliable as the "blue head" versions. But if I can get a good deal...
Anyway, that's where I'm at. I'm happy to be here on this site -- it seems like a great plan to find knowledgeable folks. Very nice.
Randy