I've tried ARFs and RTFs on and off since I got a Wen-Mac Aeromite back about 1950. Wore out the pull starter and had fatigue cracks on the plastic parts before I got the first engine start. Continued the ARF disappointment with some 1940s era wire framed silk covered rubber band ARFs that didn't fly decent no matter what you did. (Am I saying ARFs are nothing new?) Did better with a Cox TD-1, formed aluminum wing, plastic body, Space bug 049. Over the years I've had mixed luck with ARFs, The old Jim Walker ARFs, like the Hornet rubber powered, the 74 glider, and others locked in the addiction my father started in 1948 for building and flying. Over the years, I've even had good luck with the frequently maligned Cox Plastic ARFs. I even am sometimes tempted to get one of the overseas produced P-30 or Coupe de Hiver contest type rubber powered models. Hi tech, mostly composite costruction, complex timer set-ups that adjust for hard javelin type hand launches with the prop locked so you don't waste winds, timed trim changes for stab incidence for power burst, cruise power, glide, and sometimes even diferential incidence between the two wing panels. And of course, for free flight, a dethermalizer. RC isn't the only high tech portion of model aviation, nor is it the only component with ARFs or RTFs
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Our club usually has 130 members a year. About a 10-15% turnover. ARFs seem to be the main entry trainer, but of the relatively small percentage that stay with it for more than a couple years, nearly all seem to eventually turn to kits.

Out of the 89 flyables I have right now, maybe 6 are ARFs or RTFs. Maybe 18 are partially built kits from estate sales, garage sales, or just tired of it give-aways. Ten are scratch or plan built. The rest are kits I built myself. Also have over 120 kits and uncompleted models. Luckily I have lots of room in the garage rafters. And a patient wife.

To me, the ARF/RTF, if properly built, are a very viable part of our way of aviation life. If the plane is poorly built, it belongs in the garbage with other trash like some of the old "Slag Engines", Coherer-decoherer radios imported in the fifties, plastic props that shatter if the engine speed exceeds 5000 rpm, and other trash I've seen over the years. If somebody likes ARFs over building, hey, whatever floats your boat.

As far as being quicker to build, I needed almost 55 hours to assemble and equip a popular 40 sized Stick clone. Two weeks late I was able to build a Goldberg Electra, and have the KIT built plane covered and ready to fly in just under 40 hours. Wether you prefer the kit built or the ARF, enjoy.

As far as dealing with the critics of either, remember Corborundum non Illigitimi Est. Don't let the (Bleeps) wear you down. I just enjoy putting down put-down artists.