While I do think the flaps help some from what I've seen at my local field, I do agree that you probably shouldn't try to re-engineer the kit on your first build. Build it stock and see how it goes. The kits are cheap enough and easy enough to build to buy another one sometime later and fool around with the design.
Here are the pictures of mine so far. I need to finish the cockpit area, add trim colors, and hook up the control linkages and it will be read to fly. Can't wait!!