Help with choosing parts for a first robot, please.

[dotDominic]

Cool, thanks very much! Right now I'm not looking for any really fast charging, just something that works.

Also, just read this thread regarding mixing issues with DX6is and BotBitz ESCs. I imagine everyone on here has already read it, but here it is anyway: http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...-spektrum-dx6i Not really convinced I'm up to the task of hacking these, particularly when I've never soldered any before. (Not comfortable thinking that one of the first things I try soldering on is an ESC worth £44...) So I'm thinking I might buy a cheaper transmitter which doesn't have this problem. (Or isn't as affected by it.)

But it just made me wonder why people don't control their robots like this, rather than using one control stick:
Dominic's Pretty Naff Diagram.jpg


I imagine this type of control has a name, but I've no idea what it is. I just would've thought that would stop that dead zone in the corners of the control as discussed in the above thread. But since I haven't heard of anyone using it (and that I'm a total newbie to this sort of thing), I'm guessing there is some major problem with trying to control a robot in this way?
Sorry about all these questions.