My YS 140 DZ + 2 years worth of 30% nitro cost me about 2000$ in canadian money. My ZDZ 80 RV with canister and all stuff required for gas engines with props cost me about 1250$ brand new.

The best of the best pattern plane is not necessarily less expensive than a good IMAC plane. I have seen somewhere that the most expensive pattern plane ARF without engine, radio costs somewhere near 8000$ [X(][X(].

The only really big advantage of pattern to me is that it does not require a larger vehicule hence why I flew 2 years with a YS.

It also may be a perception thing since it looks like IMAC is more receptive to newcomers than pattern.