algutkin - you make some really valid points. I'm new to R/C flying and haven't had flying field or club experience, but almost every point you made rings true in my other hobby (model railroading). You have your "snobs", "junkers", "wannabe snobs", "look like snobs but are not" and of course, "really decent common folk" type guys. For the most part, the snobs are the ones who out-spend everyone else and pretend to be experts even thou they never really build anything. They just throw tons of money into buying things and then spend their time bragging about all their goodies adn lloking down their nose at your junk. The guys who actually build and run the stuff are the guys that are most friendly and helpful to others.

I think this is typical in almost any hobby. Some people just need to get attention by having the biggest and best or acting like an expert. They don't realize that others would enjoy their company more if they didn't act that way.

Customcougar ( junker flyer and proud of it )