I've maintained a fleet of RTF 1/2A combat planes for the last 10 years with very little behind the scenes involvement besides simple airframe repairs. Most planes get tossed into the burn barrel due to fuel soakage before they are considered total losses unworthy of simple repairs with some scrap balsa and packing tape.
I've never had any engines destroyed, servos ruined, or any other "high dollar" casualties other than the time it takes to patch things up.
Mid airs suck. They cost us pleasure seekers who have limited free time to devote to this hobby in wasted time that you can never get back.
Never get that time back. Flying slow and light limits your exposure to the risk of ruining the fun.
Time is our most precious asset, once it is spent, you can never get it back.
Several guys who woulda, coulda, shoulda been life long combat flyers got burned out and "off putted" by the endless battle to keep a fleet of planes ready to go because of the mentality that bigger and faster is more fun.
Bigger and faster IS more fun. If I was wealthy enough, I'd find a group of guys who would like to fly combat with full scale retired jetliners, like 747s.
As an average guy with limited time and money, I've sought out the most intelligent and practical way to get the most combat time with the least invested.
I'd say that so far I've done pretty good. I'll bet my ratio of prep time to actual combat time beats the "high speed jousters" and "chicken players" with their 90 mph set ups, 2 to 1.