For a great budget controller try the NCE powercab, available for £135 for the starter which can be expanded to a full pro system as your layout grows, the Bachmann Dynamis is also a great starter system that can be upgraded. If you want to bite the bullet and invest in a high end DCC controller there is only one option, the ESU Ecos 50200 it can be bought for £500 or €500 in Germany. It is the best by far among the others I have used one and researched DCC controllers extensively looking for my next controller and this is the one I will be buying. If you by the NCE system you will spend over €600 bringing up to pro spec and the Dynamis will run you into the best part of €500 upgrading it.
Yes DCC is not the holy grail, but the advantages far outweigh DC, even for a single operator you can have you loco lights on while stationary coach lights on and sound locos with engines running in the background. DC is variable voltage and that's it's biggest disadvantage with DCC it's constant.
In my opinion DCC is the only way to go.