I should clarify, I wasn't looking at them as a replacement, just a quick, cheap way to get into it while saving up.
After reading the rest of this thread even that didn't sound like a viable alternative.
Stick or nothing.

I just wanted to ad a note in regards to Warr guitars. I was able to own a 12string version, stick tuning, with dual midi set-up. I received it approximately a month before I recieved a new 12 string bamboo stick. I sold it and kept my Stick.