Thanks for the quick response!
The reason I don't want to shell out is that I'm trying to avoid being the guy that spends $1200 and rides 10 miles. Basically, I'm really not sure I'll enjoy long term road biking.
BUT! Since posting, I think I may have found a solution. I FINALLY found a used bike store that repairs and rebuilds all kinds of bikes. They say most bikes sell for $150-$250 and have a pretty high level of quality. I'm going tomorrow, and if I can find a really tall frame, I might be in luck!