Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the info. Spoken with a few friends, one who has built an RV already.
# RPC vs RPL can be done to save a little money, but maybe not as much as I've been thinking. So will go with RPL as no issues with medical. Can do training in a smaller aircraft as well to save money.
# Do flight training 'quickly', i.e. don't leave huge gaps otherwise it will take longer.
# Finding a good instructor is important. However sometimes another instructor in the same school can teach you something you are stuck on
# Do a few TIF at the airports you can easily get to, ask lots of questions,
# Reasonably double min 25 hours if you want to pass comfortably.
Will start down the research path with aim to do RLP over Spring/Summer.... hopefully!
RV stuff, well that's another discussion, but hopefully it happens.