I visited Adelbridge & Co. gun store on north San Pedro in San Antonio earlier this week for the first time. They had racks and racks of ARs and AKs on sale, and among them I found this "DPMS Miniature Assault Panther" on sale for $2K. (When you go to the link, be sure to click on the photos to see them in correct aspect ratios).
I have several of those already in that exact same color, plus a couple others in snow and woodland camouflage patterns, more than I really have room for, so I passed on that one (btw Adelbridge has a miniature panther companion model in desert markings as well). But when I told my wife about the Panthers, she was so pleased that they carried that line she said I should buy a gun from them and call it a Christmas present from her!
So I moved on that REAL FAST, and today a Windham Weaponry Carbon Fiber 15 came home with me for $589 plus tax.

I hefted a Carbon-15 years ago in a gun store and found it intriguing. Of course I am an AK guy, so pretty much all ARs are lightweight to me.

As sold it comes with a picatinny rail over the receiver, and picatinny gas block, but no sights. So I am in the market for some non-optical sights. I have a couple red dots around the house, I may put one of those on as well.
Suggestions are welcome. As I said above, in keeping with the lightweight nature of the rifle, I notice that Magpul makes some polymer sights. Anyone have experience? Are they solid, reliable, not too breaky or bendy?
Does a front sight for a gas block rail differ in anyway from a rail over the handguard? It appears to me that the gasblock rail height is the same as the receiver, so I should think a rear/front pair of sights from the same manufacturer should work just fine?
Probably lean towards folding sights. Oh, and I am budget-minded about this - this rifle, while would like it capable of self-defense use, is not going to be my primary combat weapon, so this is not a money-is-no-object rifle.
Any suggestions much appreciated.
ETA: and yes this is my first AR, as I said I'm an AK guy. I'm reading the manual, and it describes all these mysterious gadgets: forward bolt assists, tiny little safety levers, spring-loaded dust covers...