Thanks for all of your help!! I ended up buying a PoulanPro 5020AV after reading all the reviews on this site and elsewhere. . . .I'm gonna keep calling the rental departments at local HD's waiting for them to sell their used Makitas.
Very few A.S. members have only one saw.
I have gas and electric saws for different uses.
Make sure that you also get yourself some chaps and basic safety gear (boots, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hat).
Philbert