if you look at the cost on a plane vs. plane basis, of course a kit is more expensive to get in the air than an arf.

if you look at a time rate of cost, kits are cheaper (for me anyway). with arf's they build/assemble fast; and when i fly them, i push as hard as they'll go, and eventually something happens that can't be fixed--[sm=lol.gif]NEXT!! if i flew only arf's, i could go through 20 a year. not because i'm a bad pilot, but because they just don't matter to me and i'll try really stupid $#!t with them.

but with my kits and my one scratch build, i take good care of them on the ground and in the air, so they last much longer. so, i need fewer planes and fewer $$$ for the same amount of enjoyment over the long run. that's what my wife has drilled into my head anyway... "[sm=tired.gif](zombified) fewer planes, fewer planes, fewer planes...."