Ok. Spent more time looking and I'm coming back around to V-drums or Yamaha. Maybe.
The Alesis gives amazing bang for the buck but the reviewers are mixed on Amazon. I take it with 3/4 cup of salt considering the source but most of the negatives suggest saving up and going V or Y.
I still want to play them. MayBe this week I can get over to Sam Ash and check them out. Playing sounds and the actual acoustic volume when I play. The added cymbals on he Alesis makes it attractive for me as well. Four Tom pads too. I believe more can be added too, but not sure. If the apparent technical issues can be worked around, that's a pretty sick set up.
If however the technical and durability issues cannot be resolved, I need to spend more money. Plus the top end Yamaha high hat with two actual plastic cymbals on a hi hat stand makes a lot more sense to me. I need two crashes and a ride and one up two down is fine. My big kit is three up three down (left hand floor Tom) and the Alesis could replicate that I think, although I practice a lot more on the small kit to force more creativity.
Anyway, looking for more input!