During the summer months when there is light after work, I can challenge myself to get out to the airfield for a few practice flights. I have been doing this every day, to every other weekday for the last two months straight. The "convenience" of electric makes this possible for me. The practice make it possible to compete AND progress (or at least maintain newly learned skills long enough to stick). The extra practice time is needed to learn the Intermediate schedule while continuing to rehearse the Sportsman one I can fly in a contest today (and those 2 darn loops LOL).  I have nothing against IC, but the convenience of electric is an instrumental part of the whole pattern competition effort that is hard to separate out at this point. Last night I got in 3 flights between a DLE dead stick and the arrival of another gasser & sunset. Not pattern planes true, but if it took any more time & effort, practicing after work would not be practical. We might not disparage convenience, or relegate that to the fairer pilots, if convenience is viewed as a competitive advantage. No reason to come over to the dark side really, just the way we roll after work. Cheers!