I have the following AL kits: Bluenose 2, Swift, King of the Missippi and SF2. I have also built a Corel kit.
The instructions are lacking in many details for bothe the AL kits and the Corel kit, however, the instructions for the SF2 kit are about the most detailed I have seen. The Bluenose instructions were very difficult to understand and read. For a beginner's kit, I would have expected the Swift instructions to be more detailed.
I would say that prices for all kits from the various manufactureres are about the same and that there are definintely deals to be found on the internet.
I would like to see either Model Expo or Bluecrafter make kits of tall ships like the Lynx and the Clearwater.
Finally, this site is great for reviewing other peoples' builds and ideas at making this hobby fun and enjoyable. I make a habit of checking this site at least once a day.