Huggy,
The CJ is a nice airplane but cannot stick with the Yak product in acro. It is faster with less horses because it is a whole lot cleaner. They are a bit roomier...but more money. They are a good flying airplane!
Now the Yak is a tank! I own a Yak-50 and have unlimited access to the Yak-52. If you want one seat and pure unadulterated fun, you cannot touch the Yak-50. It is simply balls out fun! The -52 is a great airplane and shares tons of parts with the -50. Easily maintained and built like a tractor. Solid as hell!
Both are great airplanes and you cannot wrong with either. You want comfort, speed, lower fuel burn and some light acro..the CJ is the weapon of choice.
Do you want power, great acro, higher fuel burn, better parts availability, more mods, and cheaper up front cost...a -52 is the way to go.
You want a mans airplane...a -50..hands down! Lots of military owners...many of them fighter pukes that like to fight their little birds.
You could also look at the 52W which is a 52 with some nice mods like more gas, 3-blade prop, avionics...I know of one that just hit the market 110K.
Stay away from the -52TW. They may look nice but they are not of the same quality as the -52 with the training wheel. Not worth the money....
I know guys that sell all of them...I can also tell you who to stay away from.