Were there any other gliders
that compare to the PW5 and the AC5?

About the same price
Junior - Stronger and better performance
Astir/grob 102 - large cockpit, retract better performance.
ASW15 good handling, retract, getting a bit old now.
Libelle lovely good performance, good handling - if you are small enough to fit
in the cockpit.
Avoid wood. They are lovely to fly but you have to spend so much time and money
keeping them in good condition they are not worth it.
I would go for a 15m glider as they seem to offer the best performance/cost
ratio. Flaps are an unnecesary complication and expense

Several ex hang glider pilots I know make excellent glider pilots. In fact one
has just qualified for the british team in the next world championships! Get
something that you enjoy flying an constantly keep striving to extend your
experiences and skills.