No internet to ask questions.
I also started flying RC fixed wing before the internet boom and remember spending hours "fixing" followed by minutes of "flying". This was at a club field and I think most of us had as much fun talking to each other as we did flying. Very few of us (myself included) knew much about the hobby and were lucky if we got a chance to talk with any of the experienced pilots who did. Of course, we didn't know what we were missing back then.
Anyway, it's good to hear that you reconnected with your friend and that betapilot is helping him out with a K2. But this is nothing unusual for beta if you ask me.