Yeah all the required extra items definitely make it add up, but if you can get it on the cheap like a flash light then go for it. Also don't buy all the apps until you actually need them. Foreflight will be a big one though and I personally recommend the more expensive version. I don't think you'll be flying the Archer much now until I think commercial single, but if I were you and could choose I would probably choose the Charlotte location based on that. Of course if you're living in Raleigh and can live at home then of course that would be better. Good call on walking in for a tour, hearing you can't tour a location is a load of crap. Either way both facilities will have the same stuff and my instructor is really pushing for me to learn instrument on the old steam gauge Seminole so if RDU is close then I would choose that. Already expensive enough as it is.