I agree with this premise. I build from plans or from a kit. I have built a few ARF's too. Notice I used the word, built.

When buying any ARF, I noticed they were never put together well. So, I always strip off the cheap covering, rebuild and/or reinforce many structures (especially the landing gear blocks which I always replace with REAL plywood or maple wood), apply CA glue on all joints, throw away the hardware provided with the ARF (control rods, clevises, wheels, fuel line, etc) and replace it with quality materials MADE IN THE USA. I also perform many other improvements to the ARF.

Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.

I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!