One point is that the kit still has lots of stuff in it that you don't want and plenty of things still need changing. Rod ends that break, gears that often still need upgrading etc. The kit means a non working truck and the OP said budget was important.

Best by far to buy dirt cheap second hand in lightly used condition and go from there.

You will get a modified truck for cheap than likely will be clearly better than a kit version. If you want to learn about the truck, just pull it apart. They are simple.

I picked up a SH Yeti with VP gear and all the essential metal bits that just needed HD gears, bearings, an ESC and servo to be 3S tough and all that still cost less than a kit or RTR Yeti and it's naturally far more robust and reliable.