Thank you for your input. I was leaning the same way on the quality of some of the box kits. I also came to the same conclusion about the Squire, as I can pick one up for about the same price as the kit, if I shop hard.
I am sersiously leaning towards digging out the tools, and trying my hand at making my own body, and buying a neck. I just need to do more homework (and bugging everyone here) to make a logical plan.
Thanks again