Thank you, gentlemen.
Ghengis, I am familiar with the EAA and have had a chance to check out many of the available kits at their Oshkosh, Wisconsin fly-in. I was particularly interested in the Kitfox, nearly along the lines of what I am looking for, and sporting an actual aircraft engine.
I am leery of buying a used kit for all the usual reasons, i.e. I don't have the foggiest idea about the engineering/mechanical skills of whoever put it together, etc. I would love to build one myself, but I am interested in getting into something a little sooner than the two years or so I estimate it would take to get it together.
Right now a GA airplane is what I have set my sights on, hopefully with no major damage history and no big surprises at inspection. What I want to know is if there's something I should stay away from (ADs pending, the like), future costs in mind.