the thing is that if i want "proper" gear then that Apprentice package seems to have the ARFs beat. $300 for an airframe, a 5 channel 2.4 GHz DSM 2 radio (that very same Spektrum DX5e that you posted in fact), a LiPo pack with balancing charger, a brushless motor, all the servos necessary, and prebuilt isn't half bad! if you started with a $100 airframe and a $100 tx/rx and i don't think that last $100 would cover the rest of the bits.
if i want cheap/purely starter gear then the $120, $170, and $180 options also seem compelling if not quite such an outright deal.