[Elecraft] Elecraft K1 as my first HF rig??

[Jeremy]

Hi all-

I've been looking around for a few weeks now for my first HF radio (just recently newly licensed as a General) - and am looking at either something like a Yaesu FT-101, or a Kenwood TS-820S.... or an Elecraft K1 (probably just the 2-band 20m/40m version).  I'm wondering if anyone built a K1 (or K2 I guess) as their very first HF radio - and if so, whether or not they were happy with the decision. I don't really have any doubts really about the radio itself - probably just more about the fact that it's QRP and CW only).  My price range is up to about $300 right now.

Is building a K1 and not being able to use SSB a disadvantage for a new ham - thoughts?  Is only having 5 watts going to be overly frustrating (for being able to make contacts)?  I do know that a good antenna is pretty important - I was going to do an end-fed or center-fed dipole.

I am quite comfortable with building a kit (I'm and ex-Electronic Technician, and now am an Electrical Engineer so I know that I can and like building/soldering and even the troubleshooting parts.)  I'm still in the process of learning morse code (slowly but surely) and using CW, especially QRP, was one of my original reasons for getting my license in the first place.  I also really like the fact that modifying a K1, and being able to build QRP accessories is practical for a 5W radio -  not so much with a 100W one though!

If anyone has any thoughts at all or advice I'd really appreciate it. I hope I'm not too off topic here as this isn't really an Elecraft technical question - but I figured that if I posted this at eham.net or QRZ.com forums I'd get hit with a lot of "Life's too short for QRP" responses - and not as much good advice.

thanks,
Jeremy
KC2TIX