I wasn't into IXO at all until I swapped a FOV Stuka for a G55. I was impressed with the weight. Yes the spinner is terrible, but where else will you get one?
I've gone for the obscure types but must add that these have given me good service. I got the He219 and wondered about the undercarriage since all the others I had at the time had up and down.
I e-mailed them about the He219 and asked where I could get a Raiden. They asked me for my address and sent me two new models!
OK, so they didn't answer the question about the undercarriage but then can both have the same problem? Obviously there's no up option!
In SA IXO is the only brand I really buy locally so I pay about $20 including postage. Cheapest models I have. Slow to be released though. I get what's on the IXO website, so soon the Bloch 152, Macchi 205 and Hellcat will be released here.
Where someone else makes a better model I'll go for the better one every time.