The fruit farmers around here are only planting semi-dwarf trees these days. The trees can be planted a little closer and much of the ladder use eliminated. Labor in the orchard is the biggest expense. For the home orchard smaller trees are even a bigger plus. As far as your getting a good deal on the two dollar tree, it is not always a good deal. When you buy trees at the end of the season that nobody else wanted, they are not likely to be the most popular varieties, or the best formed trunks or grafts. It will take a few years to find out how well you did. Al