Originally Posted by
TomCrump
While there is merit to what you are saying, I tend to disagree.
There is much more to our hobby than just flying. Building, for me, is 75% of the fun. It's hard to describe the feeling derived from seeing a model, that I built, take to the air for the first time. The hours spent in the shop are enjoyable, not drudgery. They greatly enhance the flying experience.
For me, this hobby isn't about what I can buy, but what I can build, and what I can do with it after it's built.
Well said Tom. There is something about learning the "fabric" of airplanes that you get from building the plane yourself that an ARF can never provide. I still enjoy the occasional ARF, but building your own is really what is satisfying about the hobby to me.