Welder too cheap to be true?

Buy a welder once, get one that can run gas.
Just like a compressor, or a tool box, buy the best you can. Someday you will need the extra capacity. I think the flux core welders are supposed to put out a lot of splatter. Any welder will weld thicker stuff Within reason. You want one that can be turned down far enough to not blow through sheet metal and leave a bunch of splatter cleanup.