This mentality of go big or don't go out at all is what kept me out of welding for many many years! As I felt I couldn't afford it. You don't have to have the best of the best to start out with. a chitty welder is probably better because if you can perfect that when you finally get that good welder your welds are gonna be 10 times better! You can get by and make acceptable welds with a cheap welder is it ideal or the best out there? No of course not but for someone on a strick budget like myself that just wants to learn you don't have to "go big" and spend 2k on a welder! I have done alot of projects that people told me I couldn't do on my 89 dollar harbor freight flux core welder! Same applies with tig welding!
