I have a flight box that was handed down to me. It has a control panel on it for starter, fuel pump and glow plug. Honestly I never use it.

1. Not to argue with Dick, because he has forgotten more than I will ever know about RC stuff, but I would get a starter. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get a motor going when you don't have one. It just makes life more simple. The Hobbico starter/12 volt battery set up is great. Essentially a cordless starter that is easy to recharge and easy to care for. I tried to go the motorcycle battery route and frankly more of a pita than I want to deal with.

2. As far as the glow driver, in my opinion, if you have a rechargable glow driver, you DID upgrade. They are so much more handy than having one anchored to you're flight box I would never go back.

3. I hand crank fuel because A. I have the apparatus, and B. pumping the fuel is so quick, I can't imagine a good reason to have one more piece of electronic doo hickey to fail.

Keeping it simple to me is what it's all about.

Tom