All good posts (well mostly).

I take exception to limiting modelling to hobby or art.

Contrary to it's status in my country, I enjoy competing (scale, Funfly, combat, aerobatics etc.) and in this aspect think of it as a sport.
Many countries classify modelling (at least the competitive portion of it) as a sport and enjoy the associated financial support of their government. And why not? Why should rc competition be classified less than skeet shooting?