I now have two HL's. The first cost right at $100 including shipping. Then I bought the metal track upgrade $67.50 including shipping.
So far about 10 hours running = $16.75 per hour, but no problems - so PHoE will improve with each hour. Just received the second one which is the SS. I've run it about 2 hrs so far. Needed two so when my brother in law visits we can play in the dirt! (I hope I never grow up!)

Of course, with HLs we do not get the PHoE for assembly of the kit. Although I do like my HL's and am pleased with them performance wise, but I do love to assemble a good model kit. I don't know what the average time to assemble a Tamiya is, but I would think it would be fairly high, so there is that PHoE even before you run it. I just wish the initial kit cost was not so high. I would love to have the Tamiya Leo. I do have a Tamiya humvee but it is an RTR. Good RC but not much in the way of WOW factor and the PHoE is low - only ran it about an hour after almost a year.

I am itching to put something together, though! (leaving myself open here, huh, TankDuel!)

jstewa41: I like the PHoE method of value - I think there is another factor and that would be Unit Lifetime based on hours of use. HL's don't have the history in that category. Mine are running great so far.