Back in 1988 I spent 6 months in Hawaii going to school, errr riding my bike, partying, and diving, and sometimes going to class
There was a guy on a yellow Torpado that I saw all the time. He could mash that thing. I'm not sure what model he had, I don't remember ever seeing any graphics other than the name Torpado.
I never once thought of it as an entry level bike. Might be that I can't get my brain cell wrapped around the concept of a Campy equipped "entry" level anything. Seems contradictory.
I don't think I would use it as a beater bike. Plenty of other candidates for that out there.