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Hmm, that doesn't sound too promising. The best deal I can find for the 6800 stages PM looks to be £444 from Merlin (with their 10% off offer until midnight).
I think I read that Pioneer has to be zeroed before every ride, but can't remember reading any other downsides to them. I also don't remember reading anything like your issue in any reviews of stages, but the stages reviews definitely aren't unanimously great.
I think I'd prefer a spider-based PM, but it's hard to justify the extra cost. I don't race (at the mo') and only have the one do-it-all type road bike, so it'd be more just for training/fitness/geeky stats.
TurtleRecall-
I suspect it is just my unit having a range issue but you do often hear people say 'my Stages did x but the customer service is great' which about sums up the product. You should zero all power meters before each ride, AFAIK.
If you want to keep cost down, have a look at the 4iiii and stick a 105 arm on (if your OCD can cope). It seems that Pioneers are hard to find in stock right now. There is a Dura Ace arm on CRC which would be about £460 with BC discount.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/pioneer-single-leg-power-meter-dura-ace-9000/rp-prod150301Depending what bike you have; BB and chainrings, you can get a Quarq Dzero for not 'much' more.
spinnnout
My Stages, Gen2 GXP, is pissing me right off, the range is awful and drops out quite a bit, can't use it on an out front mount (and it's crap on the stem too). Gonna try and get a replacement unit soon.
If you don't need to move between bikes, p2m or Quarq Dzero would be my choice right now. If you must go crank arm I'm yet to hear anyone ever say anything bad about Pioneer.