Mine cost me $141 AUS and it comes with free: AUTODESK® SKETCHBOOK® PRO LYNDA.COM PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP http://www.harveynorman.com.au/wacom-intuos-manga-pen-touch-small.html
I got mine for around 80 US dollars, not bad, it's pretty small which means you lose precision but it's still good. e; dang they can get really expensive.
I have a Wacom tablet and I don't like to use it for drawing in this game. Instead, I use my Corsair M65 mouse that has a DPI adjustment button, and scale it down when I'm drawing. Much more precise in my opinion.
If you do want to use a tablet to draw on tracks with brush, it's really sketchy. I recommend you practice a lot with getting your hand steady. And even then, I like to use it only to outline some art for a track, and then go over it again with the line with my mouse.
I like the more natural feel, and the quickness of it. But then again I tend to draw scenes that lend themselves to that style, while you do mostly art. I agree though, the tablet isn't good for art at all, or even track making, just detailing. I'd never use it for drawing delicate pictures.
Directed towards Maple, how important is the ride to you comparing it to the detail of your track. I know that plenty of pros make splendid tracks with gorgeous detail but with maybe a 10 second ride with no rhythym or flow or even length to it.
Why not just appreciate both? You gotta have the night to appreciate the day yo. Edit: OK more on topic stuff please