.The other thing besides NOT being cheaper, is when you build your plane ,you can CUSTOMIZE it to your prefferances,ending up in a "ONE of a KIND" model.YOU may see other planes that look similar,built from the same kit, but there`s none, that will be identicle, in every way...I think ,that with ARFs ,the company`s looking to make a buck and they shop around to find the the "best bargain" possible for parts that are installed in the pre-built plane.I`ve seen many times, planes equipped with, not so great retracts ,for example,just to keep the ARFs price down..THINGS like that are in the builders control, if your constructing from a kit..You can shop around,for the, top of the line parts,or of a lesser quality, (up to you)for your "NEW AIRCRAFT". MY GRANDMA used to say, CHEAPER is CHEAPER,meaning costs less,but you get less....I wonder if our grandmas went to the same school,JIM[....