ARF's are still made of balsa but you are right, Has not helped the Kit manufactors! With that many outfits from other countrys building ARF's there would be less balsa going to Kits made here! Not really into the ARF's I would rather build kits because of the enjoyment I get but that said there is an ARF only thread I have found interesting in what they are doing to make the planes thier own! It seems like there is always a new ARF builder coming out in the mags and I guese thats more need for the balsa!