A kit built will be more on the heavy side compared to an ARF, wood does weigh more then air. A kit built plane will also be stronger and last for decades, an ARF that is flown a lot, a season or two before the air frame is worn out. As mentioned, some ARFs are better then others but you still don't see a lot of any ARF being flown for a long time. I may be a builder but I do see some very nice ARFs being flown and a lot of them I can't build even from plans for the low price.
I try to look at building as a love affair or labor of love, even more so then the flying part. I have friends that look at it the other way, they would rather buy a new plane every season or two and just fly. It's just a choice thing.
I'm buying plans tomorrow for another build but before I decided what I wanted to build I did take a look at some nice ARFs of about the same size. I made a choice though and will spend a lot of months out in the shop before my new plane ever leaves the ground. With an ARF I could be flying in a week.