Flying an RC model aircraft is an acquired hand skill and the ability to plan and react dynamically,
Trainer aircraft are designed to assist in the development of the requisite skills. A newbie is wise to avoid wings initially as they can be extremely responsive unless quite large! better to keep the wing until you have crashed the HECK out of a trainer aircraft design.
As for the use of a flight controller with a RTB function, it is your money!! When the battery gets low the RTB function can be spectacular! As there is a lot of forward motion including during landing It would be interesting how you will program in the flying field environment, the landing glide slope and of course get the wind direction changes if any into the program and have the plane land safely. Don't forget the stall speed, (You will be considering the NET airspeed I assume).
You can't stop an RC aircraft in midair and then have it lower itself gently to the ground, though it is quite possible to have vertical landings, (mostly only once per aircraft though)!
Just a few thoughts!
Have fun!