Well, if we're gonna go there:

First, I agree with you, I still build some. I figure, there are plenty of oddball stuff, especially non-standard designs (canard, autogyro, etc), that I'll build those, and the "normal stuff I'll let the folks in China do the building. Heck, I can't cover like them nor can I build them for as little as they cost!

Second, along the lines of advice/horror storys: First time I saw one of these RTF's, the guy had the salesman at the LHS put it together, and fast charge the bats, them came to the feild. After 4 flights, the bat died, totaled the plane. Neither he nor the guy helping him, checked the bats and the LHS didn't warn him to. So he went back AND THEY REPLACED IT! I couldn't believe it.

By the time I got my first kit built, I'd learned all about things like checking your batteries. So if you get an RTF, take more than an hour and find good help!

Sorry for the bad advice on the Batteries, but so far I can't prove there is a difference in slow and fast charging.

Gordon