Also, I'll be trailer-parking the bird at Turf or Estrella, I'm 5'11", 170
pounds, and able to lift fairly heavy pieces without assistance. (But I
would like something easy to put together.) Again, I'm most interested in
pursuing x-country, and competing as soon as I'm ready.

Hmmm. Can lift heavy pieces, and price under $25,000. Look at the
LS-3, which is in that price range, and whose only disadvantage is heavy
wings (170 pounds or so). An older glider (late '70's), but its flaps
have performance about the same as a modern standard class (flapless)
glider. Excellent for XC, especially with its gigantic spoilers that
will get you down anywhere.