Kev, there are a few guys that fly into my local with Eurostars and they all swear by them. cracking machines!
I did my tailwheel conversion on a Cap 10 and a Harvard, and a bit of C/S prop in a Stearman. there are people around that will do your SEP in a plane that is not your average spam can, and it does give the learning an extra edge and makes the far more exessive cost per hour compared to your plane more value for money. have you tried north weald? there are schools there with all sorts of planes available.
Dave