Hi Allen, I have a brother-in-law at about the same stage you are, bought a small Quad from Jay-Car and also a Slow Stick off a friend of mine he already had a Mode 1 (Throttle on Right) Transmitter from and E-Flite Cub which he planned to use on the the Slow Stick.
He had flown the Cub successfully, but bought the Drone afterwards and has done a lot of flights with that Mode 2 (Throttle on left), ended up I converted his Transmitter to mode 2. So far so good except the other day he asked me to check fly the Slow Stick for him after some repairs, I had to tell him "no can do" I can't fly mode 2 it always ends in tears.
I'm not trying to tell you to go Mode 1 or 2 but suggest that you select one or the other and stick to it, the only argument I have for mode 1 is that most people in Australia fly mode 1, so you have more help available if your going to join a club.
If your just going to fly by yourself it doesn't matter, I started off mode 2 then had a 10 year break and when I came back flew mode 1 because of the club I joined were all mode 1.
Don't want to start a mode 1 & 2 argument, but I'm sure there will be.