With the prices of ARFs these days, you can NOT look at an "hourly rate" of what you would get paid to build it. It is not cheaper usually to build a kit. Its more FUN to build a kit.
Also, ya gotta figure those laborers in PRC etc are NOT getting $15 dollars an hour. Maybe $15 a day?
I fly both ARF and kits and sure have more pride in my kit built planes than any of the ARF's.
Its also nice to show up at the field knowing that your planes wont look like anyone else's planes.
Like MinnFlyer stated, its a hobby. While I hate to cover, I LOVE to build. I am getting better (slowly) at covering em also.
I have a kit built Uproar and its one of my funner planes to fly.