RTF and ARF will be the demise of the kit, the same way kits have been the demise of scratch building NOT!

I'm a relative newbie (this is only my fourth year flying), but in that time, I've scratch built at least 6 SPADs, built two kits, repaired one crashed Nexstar (using mostly scraps left over from other projects), and am finishing up my first self designed scratch build balsa and foam. Here's what I've discovered.

1. Flying is fun.
2. Building is fun.
3. If you can't go to the field due to lousy weather, you can build.
4. Its fun to go to the field with the ugliest plane in the club and fly circles around the RTF flyers that are so worried about crashing their pride and joy.
5. Its fun to go the the field with a well built kit and recieve the accolades of your clubmates for a job well done.
6. Its fun to discuss with your clubmates the tips and techniques you've collected for building and repairing.
7. Balsa is cheap and plentiful.
8. Plastic is cheap, plentiful, and durable.
9. Any parts that survive the crash reduce the cost of the next build.
10. There's room at the field for everyone.

Brad