RE: Always ARF.
It's just like full scale home builts. Some guys really like to build and some guys like to fly. A few like both just as well. Flying and building are two separate hobbies. And, if you are on a limited time budget and like to fly an ARF provides the best option.
Honestly, I have a hard time assembling an ARF and getting out to the field as often as I would like. If it weren't for ARFs I'd probably have to wait until I was retired to enjoy the hobby.