Cheers Airwolf and everyone else.
VH-XXX your post perplexes me??? Not personally knowing anyone with an aero rating I would be an id!ot if I didnt try and find out what other people paid. Calling a few companies and taking their word that they are good value does not seem to be the way to me.
All things being equal I would much rather pay $2000 rather than $3000 for my "first component" and then use the other $1000 further my skills