Typically the reason someone sells their E-drums is to upgrade it meaning they found out they made a mistake and should have bought a better kit the first time. Of course there are other one off reasons like need to eat, support some other habit, etc.
But think about it if 1.5 years ago this guy spent $800 on a set and now has to sell for half price was that a good purchase? He rented the kit for $400 for 1.5 years?
There also seems to be different DM8 models "real head" and "rubber" which one is this?
The DM8 can be expanded with 2 more pads maybe more if you can use splitters.
You probably can do a conversion to mesh but the question would be why would you?
Buying used should not be any different than buying a used car. Ask questions and take a long test drive and maybe a mechanic if you know one.
The "best $400 e-kit" would be the $5000 one sold by the crack head on the corner (it might be hot) or the pissed-off ex-wife (the ex-husband might be really hot!).
Dude, I know you want a yes answer to your question but I can't in all honesty give it if you are really serious about your drumming.
I had the same dilemma when I was starting out. I had $1200 bucks and I ended up waiting another 6 months till I had $2400 for a new Roland TD-9 kx2 (which I still have most of). During the wait Roland stopped making the TD9 and came out with a TD9 ver 2 module. I was considering a TD-4 but 6 months wait and I got 4x the kit. If I would of not waited I think I would have been really sorry (knowing and having what I do today). I know my experience would have been very bad to say the least.
You are already thinking expansion and conversion and not having it long. Those are alarms to listen to (fire. get out now!).
If you must spend that $400 now and have something to hit go out today and buy it! (caution be damned) and live with the decision you made. You will not be the first or last to make such a decision. At least you have been informed and that is important.
If you end up waiting think about TD-9ver2 or DTX502 or even DM10x as good starting points. Life can be a drag and you get what you pay for most times OR you get really lucky and hit the lottery. You don't sound like you want to wait for the lottery.
Just another opinion of course. You are the one that has to make the choice!
I'll definitely take what you're saying into consideration. I notice that you said the DM10x might be a good starting place, and I noticed that on Zzounds they have a DM10 for $799, even offering a monthly 4 payment plan. That's now something I'm also seriously considering. I was wondering if you would recommend the DM10 the same as the DM10x, and why or why not? Extending that to the DM8, what aspects of it make it not so recommendable in comparison with the DM10x? I guess I'm not totally seeing what's so wrong with the DM8 that's not with these slightly higher ones retailing $1000-1500 for a novice. And also, I didn't plan on converting/expanding any time soon, I just wanted the mesh pads as an option if they end up being too loud (which is workable, I know they won't be THAT loud), maybe also eventually incorporate a ride cymbal because that's what I had with my old drum set.
I figure if I decided I did want to invest $400 into the DM8, and end up seeing these fatal flaws in it that make it unplayable or workable, taking it to the bigger town I live in there's no way I couldn't at least get $375 back and use it toward my next kit. I've turned profits on tons of used items I've bought.
I really don't want you guys to think I have the same expectations as you in a kit by any means, I know if you bought or used a DM8 you'd think it's a complete piece of shit in comparison to your pro kits. See, this is more about me dying to get my hands on a set of drums again, it's been much too long and I can feel what I used to know fading with time. However, I was never more than a simple self-taught novice, I had a $450 Pearl Export that I bought used on Craigslist as well, I know it served me very well and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Used it for 3 years, then sold the drums individually on eBay and made over $550 back. Anyway, I think sometimes you have to jump back into something before your interest completely fades, because it'd be hard to have the ambition to save all my extra side money just to stare at kits online for a year until I can finally get one, you know? Saving is slow, in 2 months I'll probably have amassed a grand $75-100 more toward my purchase.