bigned,
I agree with you 100%. The problem that I have seen is that a lot of times the student just can't help playing with all the "bright lights, bell, and whistles" on that "fancy radio". If they can set the radio at just the basics and LEAVE it there I have no problems, but if they start trying to play with it then I have problems with it. You have to admit that most people who get into this hobby aren't the type to wait. They have just bought this fancy new radio and they want to play with it!! Having the basic 4-channel no frills radio keeps them from playing with the bells and whistles, because there aren't any to play with.

Ken