I can't help but chime in on this one, as I just went through this. I won't repost it all here again, but here are a couple links to my very recent posts on this very subject.
https://www.airgunnation.com/thread...pany-and-support-like-ive-never-seen.1321267/ and some EVO test targets after barrel polishing and accuracy coming back in after polished barrel lead-in:
https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/for-those-wanting-to-see-some-skout-evo-stuff.1321897/ Clearly, for reasons stated, I am in the "buy the best you can the first time" camp. I do believe when it comes to PCPs, you generally get what you pay for. However, like most things in life, there are always situation-based exceptions. I also believe the person has to have some basic aptitude for what they are getting into, or maybe they do indeed need a "learner rifle".
You won't go wrong or be disappointed with either an Impact or a Skout (Epoch or EVO). However, after years of high-end FX Impact air guns with liners (in all fairness, FX has good liners, but they're still liners), what I felt was a falsely claimed "match-grade" trigger (Impact M4 finally has what I might consider a competition trigger), and the logistics of a foreign manufacturer, I finally jumped ship for solid bull barrels, an electronic trigger, and an American Manufacturer in the USA. Along with supporting an American company, parts are as available as is possible. For FX, if Utah Airguns, or one of the smaller mom-and-pop shops has the parts, you'll probably have them fairly quickly. If not, think "weapons parts coming into the country through US Customs". Might be a couple weeks from Sweeden, might be a few months. I personally experienced the few months for an Impact receiver once.
Working on the Skout is simply put... simple. FX Impact... organize your work space, and set some time aside if you're going into it.
I will close with my opinion on tuning these two rifles. I can't believe how much easier it seems to be to tune the Skout EVO. I don't recall even seeing a shot string yet whose extreme spread was in double digits. I'm sure it happens, but I would say it is much simpler to tune the Skouts than an FX Impact. Aside from the differences in the valves themselves, I believe this is largely because a solenoid whose dwell is controlled to the ms and very repeatable is more consistent than a mechanically tensioned hammer opening a valve. Just my opinion.