Flaps (27, V2) have small but distinct advantages. Thermal slower, see over the nose, very high speed glides, ridge bombing, final approach steeper, land slower, better takeoff control. I think they are abundantly worth the roughly $5-$10k price you pay.

As others pointed out, modern flapped gliders are very easy to fly -- no real extra skill needed. Really, the only reason unflapped gliders exist is because there was an FAI class that said no flaps.

Notice "was." The standard class is dying out as a competition class. Though no new standard/15 meter gliders are being made, 15 meter will remain a very competitive essentially one design class for a long time. If you buy standard, get ready to join club class, handicapped regionals, or suffer flap envy in 15 meter. Sure, everyone says the performance is "almost" the same, and winning is up to the pilot, and you're only giving up 20 points a day.. Are you going to be happy with that?

If you buy standard, you will be thinking for a long time, "should I move up to flaps?" If you buy 15, that won't be nagging you. Of course, "should I pay another $80k for 18 meters" will start nagging you, but that's easier to ignore.

John Cochrane (Pegasus, Discus CS, ASW27)