I am a newbie also. I just started assembling a SIG Kadet Mark II (kit). My dad got me into the sport. He got the ARF (Avistar). Crashed it and bought another one. Got an instructor. Learned to fly. Enjoys it very much but doesn't want to sit down and take the time to build. I decided I wanted my own creation to fly.

So I got a kit and spend about an hour everyday glueing my fingers together and making runs to the LHS for extra balsa. No really I have only had to make one run for balsa. I find it enjoyable to build the kit myself and I am not in a hurry to get it up in the air. Once I get it a little further along I will talk to an instructor about flying lessons and stuff.

I guess what I am trying to say is it seems some people want to get in the air right away (like my dad) others want to take there time(me). It seems an ARF is good if you want to get in the air and learn to fly right away. I wanted a little more than that. I wanted to build it then get it in the air. It seems to me its about personal preference.