Re: your question of why this isn't a good first plane when the article says it is-
He says it could be a good first build. The building is fairly simple on all the Flite Test planes. So if you already know how to fly and want to give the Flite Test kits a try, this one isn't too hard for someone new to building with foam. But it's not a trainer plane, therefore not appropriate for a beginner pilot. If you want to stick with Flite Test planes, the Simple Cub is a much better choice.