Hangar Flying

Hello,

I'm just starting my private pilot licence up here in Quebec, Canada and I am very interested in buying a Canard type aircraft. I'm a graduate of the National Institute of Aeronotics near Montreal (1994) so I know quite a bit about aircraft. I have been a avid sim pilot (more thant 5000 hours over the course of a few years... I know I'm still single but...  )

Seriously, I've read a lot about the Long-Ez and think that this design would be great (great cost to value ratio). Things I would like to know about this type though are:

- What is in you guys opinion the best airframe/engine match for this type, and what are typical performance figures for the most popular variants (I know from Microsoft MS9 but what about real life);
- Is a long nose variant preferable to a std one;
- What is preferable, a single under belly bagage pod or a pair of under wing bagage pods;
- What are the mandotary modification that the plane should have gotten to be up to date (service bullatins);
- What about dependable A&Ps that know this type (for inspection purpases) and maintenance (I don't plan on doing mine as I'm no longer in the field of aeronotics);
- What should I expect to pay for a unit that as all of the glass work done and NO engine and avionics (if I decide to buy an uncomplete LongEZ (which I might but I'm leaning heavaly for a flying example)); and
Finally, what about the retractable gear option any though?

Thanks in advance,

BTW sry for the English I'm French...