You should certainly work in something you are comfortable with,
However you are wrong that you need special tools. Take a look at what I have done so far, I have made almost all of the ribs I will need so far as well as some other small pieces. Most of the forms I have made are plywood cut and shaped using wood working tools. The aluminum sheets I have cut with a draw knife and a small handheld wood working router. The riveting can be done with a hand tool or with an air tool, same "pop rivet" gun you would get from an automotive store.
Here is a link to my progress so far,
Today I placed the order for my plans. The assembly drawings for the kit are done but they have not finished the blueprints for scratch builders yet. They will attach blueprints for some of the parts I can start on now that have been done or are interchangeable with the 750STOL and later this...
www.homebuiltairplanes.com
Everything so far has been done in an unheated tent in my backyard during the winter in Alaska, so I really believe you can do it in a small area(much smaller than my tent even) with simple tools.
Again, not trying to pressure you into 'my way' but presenting options and perhaps eliminating some misconceptions
If you do not care about looks, then the 701 or 750 would be great I think depending on your engine choices, the 701 should be a little cheaper in that regard.
To the other extreme, if you want a pure wood 2 place, the different Fisher planes are pretty fascinating to me.
fisherflying.com
The Super Koala would fit your bill, or a bit bigger I have always liked the look of the Dakota Hawk.
Edit: Cherry picked a picture from my thread so you wouldn't have to waste time digging through it if you didn't want to,