If you are in the hobby to get awarded, look elsewhere. I understand the frustration of someone who spends lots of hours building a model and the one with the most money wins the beauty contest.
Not fair, like many things in life. The one who knows how to play the system wins.
So maybe you should propose having separate categories in the competition you talk about.
I am happy for a compliment I get for a model I build, but I am not looking to take a shiny trophy home and don't need any of that attention. I am in the hobby because I enjoy flying rc planes. And I like to build things in the winter and spend more time at the field in the summer.
Just pure fun for me. I have some ARFs too and they are nicely build and fly great. And I do not care if someone buys only ARFs, I welcome him or her to the great hobby and don't look down on them.