I got 99 problems but my WiFi ain't one

Broadbandbuyer are doing 3 years free hosted cloud controller so you could go that way to start with.

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/features/3831-5-reasons-to-choose-our-free-ubiquiti-hosted-cloud-controller/

You can switch after 3 years to a self-hosted controller or pay them some money.

I have a different router for various reasons.

and then suddenly I have got £500 in my basket

That's why I jumped on that Deco deal after starting to research the unifi stuff.

Can you not just use a couple of the AP without the cloud key? I thought if you don't want all the stats you can just install it on your PC and then load it up occasionally for updates, etc. Not saying that's the case - just what I understood.

The controller runs on all sorts of stuff (Windows, MacOS, Raspberry Pi, Linux) so you don't have to have much expertise. I picked up most of mine second hand, ex-business stuff seems to come up pretty often.

Yeah, they have been on the shopping list for the last 2 years, but have never quite managed to pull the trigger, mainly as I would have to get the cloud key as I am useless at linux, and then I figure I might as well go for a router and some of their switches and then suddenly I have got £500 in my basket...

This happened to me, and I do not regret it.

The WiFi and network is ridiculously reliable and fast now... no dead spots, lots of great security features, and a signal so good I can park the car outside and a few doors down and still do maps and application updates.

Unifi is stunningly good.