From my experience it costs more to build a kit that it does an ARF.....

im not retired, and would rather spend my free time(weekends) flying.... on bad weather days i spend my time doing other stuff or maintenance on my fleet.... there's always something that needs attention.

I can build from kit form, and have done it as a personal challenge, as i have rebuilt several crashed planes to prove a point and save $$$ as well...but currently my free time is too valuable...that may change if i ever live long enough to retire some 35 years from now