RE: How much work is too much on an ARF?
If the workmanship was horrible and the pre-glued hinges could be pulled out by hand, you really didn't buy a model airplane. You placed a bet.
You placed a bet with no odds, especially none in your favor.
In fact, the covering job you admire probably covers some odds against you. Anyone who can't glue in reliable hinges will have no clue about wood selection. The bet is they wouldn't know bad wood if it poked them in the eye every time they tried to glue it into the horizontal stabilizer. You are betting your RX, engine, and time spent every time you fly it.
Hope you win the bet. Honest.
But I hope even more that most who read this thread will see just how much you've spent in money... how much you've spent in time you didn't plan for... how much effort you've spent... and how much you're risking.