ORIGINAL: Tired Old Man
So this hobby has come to be about little more than where to get the cheapest parts? I can now understand why so many are unwilling to move up to larger and better flying models. I can also now understand what differentiates those that fly well from those that fly ''sport''.
I don't remember a time when for the most part, it wasn't about the price of parts and equipment. I remember clearly in the early 70s when the whole discounting trend hit the hobby ... so its been with us for quite some time now. Have seen several waves of "lower cost" equipment coming into the hobby .... brands that included OS, JR and Futaba to name just a few. These were once low cost imported alternatives to what were more common USA brands. Now these are mainline brands.
I've also known quite a few people that flew on a budget and were expert pilots. I have also known people that only bought the "name brand" expensive equipment and they couldn't fly worth a hoot. Its about stick time, not $$$ spent