Call it instant gratification if you want, but I crashed 3 kits this year. So, to get flying again, I purchased a couple of ARFs. I have a TF giant P51 kit in progress, but I didn't want to spend the rest of the summer finishing it and not flying.

ARFs definitely only HELP the hobby. There will always be a limited number of hobby dollars. And if a larger portion is directed to RC because of ARFs, then it helps the whole hobby. And likewise there will always be a limited number of hobby hours. ARFs allow people to get flying much quicker, and for the vast majority of RC fliers, that's the FUN part. And more fun = more dollars spent.

Kerry

P.S. If I had to spend 2 years building a plane as fantastic as NEO, and then crash it on the maiden flight like he did, I wouldn't have the stomach to stay in the hobby.