Help from a 3D Printer Noob

[BeefaloBart]

I have been looking at the many 3D printers on the market, and my budget is quite low at the moment. Im at a loss on what to do to get started but have a few ideas.

Im looking at the Printrbot Simple in kit form which retails about $350 and that I can somewhat afford. But what I read about it online is that since its made from wood it tends to be a little sloppy. So I have a few questions about this model of printer to get rolling.

If I were to add some ribbing to the larger flat sides of the printer to stiffen the weak areas that can cause flex during printing would this help or is it just a waste of time?
Is there any way to upgrade some of the parts from the metal version to stiffen the printer?
What is the quality of prints when the speeds are turned down lower? Can I print an object thats not going to look like it was made from glued together yarn?
How easy is it to add a heated print bed so that I can print with polycarbonate instead of just PLA?

My whole thing is getting into this with a kit or at least a low cost used printer. I need to be able to print a pair of pieces which are less than 3 inches long and 3/4" wide. I can modifly my design so that I can compensate for some less than perfect printing, but I still need the product to be somewhat production quality.

I have another point of interest that Im uneasy on. I would like to find someone whom I can trust to assist me in my 3D model and to be able to print a sample and send it to me. I need a working version of my product to show to investors so I can afford to get a good enough 3D printer to go into small scale production.