Good equipment can make a lot of difference. There are just certain things about how a good sword actually works and handles that, if not present in a simulator or SLO, can lead to bad habits and bad impressions.
If you're looking at blunts, I assume you already have a waster? If not, I personally would recommend you purchase or make a good waster first (the local study group you alluded to, and us here on the forum, will be able to help you there). A good waster will allow you to "get used to" how a longsword moves and behaves while you save for that Albion Maestro.
[soapbox] One of the most striking things I've noticed and heard from people in my limited experience dealing with friends, coworkers, and other interested parties who have little to no knowledge about medieval/renaisance weapons in just how much they do NOT expect from a weapon. When I hand them my NSA waster or a reproduction sword, almost invariably, their first comment is something like "Wow! that's not heavy at all!" or "Wow! That's not too bad!"
At the last RenFaire I went to, a young lady, who admitted to having never held a sword in her life, was handed a replica rapier at the Arms 7 armor booth. She held it like a hammer and commented something silly like "I think I can get used to this." I reccomended she slip a finger over the quillion (into the finger ring). She did so, and her eyes got notisably HUGE as she suddenly realized what a tremendous difference such a simple change makes. [steps off soapbox]
(I just ordered a Maestro-line Liechtenauer last night
Now for the waiting...)
