RE: Only one more item to get....WHOAHOOO!!!
Pinnacle now has released studio 12, definately less expensive than Adobe, but also more limited................However I have been using studio for over a year and the only limitations I have run across are motion graphics, but with a little creativity that can be over come.
That said if I were just starting and looking to find the best compromise between cost and features and easy of use, I would look at the Sony Vegas pro software.