I started RC too, then got my rating and an RV-3 7 years ago. While I like the tailwheel, nothing says I'm so cool like running over a runway light at an airshow... I've done it and so has my friend (he did it at OSH)
In all honesty, I like the -4, but the -8A really is a better plane. Hold more stuff, goes faster, is tricycle. Hard to beat all that. If I had to do over again, I would have.
-Bruce