No offense Jess....but we both enjoy flying RC...you fly a kit built....and I fly an ARF. How is it that we don't have anything in common? I am sure you would tell me all about your "kit built" if I asked. I would probably give you an "attaboy" and wax poetic about how nice it looked and what cool building skills you have. Maybe ask you for some tips. I built a kit back in 07 after getting into the hobby in 03. Check my profile and you will see a couple of pics of my .40 size Stingray (crashed on maiden)...and the yellow *** which was an amalgam of, tail feathers from a CAP (mid air) and a wing set, cowl, LG from a .40 size Sukhoi ARF (another friend crashed it)...and a scratch built fuse, which a friend helped me with. So, I have"built". It's just that I have not done so in a long time. Not sure if I will or won't again.
I was at the field the other day flying my Easy Sports which use the original wings...but we built a pair of fuse's after I dumb thumbed the ARF. And a friend crashed his and gave me his lightly damaged wing set. So now I have two. Anyway, I was talking to one of the guy's...who was a prolific "builder"...but at his age...his eyesight is going....so he no longer builds. He brought an ARF trainer to the field to fly. Would you not have anything in common with him? If you did not know him and saw him flying an ARF...would you think there was nothing in common with you?
Look...I have nothing but high praise for people who "build"...especially scratch builders. What I don't like is the attitude that SOME builders have towards people who buy ARF's. And blame them for the demise of kits....and the demise of this country, in general.
IF in fact the "building" community laments the fact that the youngsters are not building....perhaps a mentor program could be set up where they fly. Take a youngster (or oldster) who might be interested and help him build a kit. Kind of a Master-Apprentice thing....if you will. This would be a way of passing building skills to the younger ones.

All for now...going to go down and prep my ARF's for tomorrow's flying.

Regards,
Chris