As far as I see on all Siglent websites and my price list SDS1102CNL is not available now, only from China sellers and only the updated CNL+ version with LAN and higher resolution display.
I've sold quite a few in past years but the CML+ is a better choice because of much greater memory depth. However at 279 Euro and for a little more SDS1202X-E is now the best choice @ 339 Euro.
I saw a mint condition 1102 for about £150 which seemed like a good amount for a first "try out" scope. I searched for the 1202X-E and didn' find an "in the hand" price much under £400.
150 quid would be a fair price a CNL these days.
Basic scope usage is no different to any past Siglents but the capabilities are far further advanced with higher sensitivity and BW just to name the obvious.
The X-E models now offer the best bang for buck from the Siglent range.
My first trials with the scope are going to be quite limited in terms of performance, even allowing that in real life things always turn out 'to need more', I don't see my requirements coming much over 50 Mhz. What I do know from experience with other types of test gear is that beginners get much more out of a less impressive spec instrument that is easy to use than out of a much more expensive kit that really takes some studying.
One part that really appealed to me is a review I saw where the guy demonstrating the scope said the 1102 was really easy to get the settings right via the 'auto' option which can then be easily adjusted to get exactly what you want.
I am totally on my own here in RL with no more help than what I can find on the forum here and some tutorial documents and videos so ease of use is a major factor, much more so than spectacular performance.
All modern DSO's offer Autosetup but you at least have the advantage of prior scope usage so you'll use it for a bit then revert to 'driving' a scope. Manual setup improves knowledge and understanding better than using shortcuts.
You'll always get assistance here on the forum and the more info you offer helps us give good guidance. Screenshots are great.
Are all Siglents 'user friendly' or does it vary a lot?
Do lower spec Siglents differ much in use or is it pretty much the same throughout the range with just more muscle?
The more features added require more understanding of them and that in itself becomes 'non-user friendly' for the novice. On the other hand the vast array of features now available in entry level DSO's make for capabilities to 'grow into'. In using the power of a DSO, the most important spec is memory depth and an absolute minimum is now thought of as 2Mpts that CML+ offers. (CNL only 40 Kpts)
Of Siglent's current lineup the 4ch X-E's due to their shared vertical controls (multiplexed) offer the toughest challenge for the scope novice and while some grasp it quickly others take some little time to become proficient with shared controls. This the primary reason why I suggested SDS1202X-E as it still has individual vertical controls in this small form-factor.
However as cprosser and others have found, of the entry level range the 4ch X-E's currently offer the most scope 'to grow into'.
Initially CNL was a good seller for me then CML but now the X-E's are the most attractive for a variety of reasons....mem depth, LAN, FFT, Decode, fast processor, etc.
But I will add, a competent user can get results with very basic equipment.