Kit building takes time, and work. ARF planes put you in the air allot faster without all the inconvenience. ARF planes are inexpensive compared to building a kit if you consider all the labor, and component costs. People do not have the time, or desire to build. The draw back is that without building experience some people cannot repair even the smallest damage. I was in a local hobby shop, and saw a gentleman with a minor tear in the covering desperately wanting this repaired. The store owner told him what it would cost, and he couldn't believe the price. Why should he consider a repair to his wing that would cost $100.00 dollars when he only paid $189.00 for the plane complete. The owner replied that you have three colors. That means three rolls of covering, and the labor. The owner was honest , and the customer was unhappy. He probably thought he was getting riped off, and ordered a new plane from Tower Hobbies. Most of our r/c products come from outside the US. Manufactures look for cheap labor, and materials to bring their products to market. Now I don't want to get into that child labor sweatshop thing, because these jobs might be a blessing to these people that live in places like China. I bought a Super Tigre 3250, and thought they were made in Italy. I have been out of R/C for 20 years. Yes kits are drying up. Manufactures need to make a profit to stay in business. Tower has many ARF compared to kits. The next kit I think that will be discontinued will be the Topflight Stinson Reliant. Custom plan, and cutting companies will survive to support the building market. I build everything I fly. ARF planes may be great. I think the price of ARF planes will increase in the future. We think of this as a hobby, and manufactures operate as a business directed by profit.