Well, I guess I’m disappointed that the market doesn’t have a nice low cost flute answer to the Yamaha recorder. However, considering that even Mr. Tipple’s flutes are hand processed, $60 is a bargain compared to wooden Irish flutes. It will just be some time before we can budget that in.
BTW, that Pocket Sax was about $60, too, so it’s price is comparable to Mr. Tipple’s flutes. Compared to the original it is a bargain, but it’s no $5.95 recorder.
Thank you for responding, Mr. Tipple.
The xaphoon was hard on me, as a non-reed player. A lot of back-pressure. A lot of learning curve. The fact that I play backwards-handed didn’t help, since the finger holes aren’t conducive to that. The thing about bending notes a whole tone I discovered to be quite true, but was a pain in the butt for me as a beginner.
Now, to put things back on topic:
I went to NTIF this weekend and got a bamboo flute from Fire Om Earth Studio www.fireomearth.com for $45.00. I am a bit hesitant to say that I currently like it better than my Rose (and better than the Erik the Flutemaker flutes I’ve had). Making a tone with this thing is pretty effortless, and it sounds pretty darn good to me.
Wait a moment!!
You are here. I am here. And, there are thousands of ITM oriented musicians, RIGHT HERE.
Small world, eh?
LOL That’s right. We’re in a global village right here. But I can’t drive over to your house and borrow an unused flute to see if my girl takes to it, can I? 
It looks like Doug Tipple’s flute is the most affordable option, but we’ll have to wait on that. The girls already cost us so much money with all their Irish Step Dancing. Until then I’ll put my feelers out and see if anybody locally has an old irish flute collecting dust that we might be able to borrow.
Thanks for all your responses.
I love your haiku. 
Thanks for responding, btw. I hope to be able to afford a flute of yours by the summer.
Dew-
Dropped you a PM.
John