I personally think that if you have to totally unbuild and then rebuild any particular manufacturers airplane (doesn't matter who) it wouldn't be worth owning. I just don't have that much patience. I would rather just build a kit plane instead.
If it comes out the box built and all I am "supposed" to do is assemble the pre-built pieces, I expect it to have been built correctly to perform the intended job. I think that is a reasonable expectation.
Isn't that then entire reason for buying an ARF in the first place?
Oh, and I would certainly be mad at my buddy if he knew there were issues with a certain manufacturer and he didn't warm me (no matter what the product or who the manufacturer was).
Or am I just being naieve?