I totally agree with everything that has been said in this thread. Here's my story:

Got a Nexstar RTF, crashed it. Threw away the airframe and got the ARF version, crashed it. Modified the crashed airframe into a tialdragger (fun!) and it still flies today, even if my engine is pretty beat up from all the dirtnaps! Its not really an ARF anymore, and I get some good compliments on the conversion. (Thanks again, britbrat).

Now I am nearing completion of my first kit, the beautifully-designed Sig Somethin' Extra. I have thouroughly enjoyed every aspect of this build, and even the Monokote has been coming out very nice. I am very proud of the time, effort and patience that I've taken in this project, and the end result really shows it. I will never buy another ARF. (BTW, the SE will have an O.S. 70FS in it with a 12x8, cross yer fingers!)

I am probably in the minority here, especially as I am on the younger side of the demographic (32 next week [:@]), but for me this was just the most natural progression. It would be good to see more kits, and I think we will as more and more people follow the same progression as I am.

Next plane? Top Flite, either Mentor or the Arrow- and retracts.[8D]