I love my rollers. You can get em from Performancebike for $89 on sale from time to time. I paid $99. Theyre soild, decent quilty, and offer good resistance. Work your technique, too.

I think rollers are great too, I picked up the same ones that TriGuy recommended below - awhile back. However, I like my rollers in addition to my trainer - which is a cycleops Fluid2 which is outside your price range, but they have some less expensive models that you could check out. I think the Mag is around $150.

thanks...all helpful...so, there is some learning curve with the rollers...falling over, for example? anything else to consider when looking at rollers vs trainers?

Rollers do take a couple sessions to get used to. First time on it you feel like a kid again taking the training wheels off! Rollers do require more focus. And certainly make you a better handler.
Trainers are much better for the Spinervals sessions etc. The trainer can simulate increase and decreases in resistance.
Rollers are more steady state.
If I had to choose one over the other I'd go with the trainer first. But I have to ride indoors alot due to weather - long winter etc.
If you can swing both, that is best.

I set my rollers up in my hallway to start. Never sustained any injuries when I rode off the side...

Learn,
Rollers are most decidedly NOT a waste of money. They teach you balance, proper positioning, and a smooooth pedal stroke. It doesnt matter how smooth you think your stroke is, untill you get on some rollers, you wont realize how off it is. My rollers dramatically increased my efficiency on the bike. This is coming from an older FS MTB which forces a nice smooth stroke in order to avoid bob.

And seeing as the OP is in San Diego, its not like he'll be riding these things for months at a time in the basement. Its likely to be a rainy day/ night time thing, i would imagine.