It really is different strokes for different folks.
When I purchased my used ARF trainer to get started I was a proud fellow.
But as some time has passed my desire to have the exact same thing as everyone else has diminished.
The last couple of ARF's I have purchased gave me no pride of ownership, thats just me.
On the positive note if something has to crash I prefer that it be one of the ARF's.
So right now I am into kit building. At some time in the future I may switch back to the ARF.
One thing about an ARF is that if you fly it and you don't like it, you don't have very much invested in it.