FC is more personal IMO, and I would feel more comfortable buying through an FC member.
Did buy a PAX on EntExchange last year, brand new unopened, for $150. Was a relatively smooth and painless transaction, but I had to do my due dilligence and honestly was kind of a PiTA because it seemed like a deal that was too good to be true (PAX 2 wasn't out yet, and PAX still was around $300-$250 or whatever it was), so I probably annoyed the guy with my questions.....
It did check out though, his shop closed down and he was just purging inventory. Got it verified through Ploom and everything was legit.