Nothing like scratch building from a good plan, but due to limited free time, I do sometimes build a kit.
I have collected a few certainly, but definitely "builder's models" that are more and more hard to find (at least if you are outside the U.S.) e.g. the Sig Liberty Sport, Ryan STA, the large Pica T-28, Flair's 1/4 scale T Moth (they are now closed...) and - anyone remember the old UK Veron company? got their Tomtit, just can't gather enough courage to build such a rare kit...

BTW, I'm not sure about the cottage industry of kit cutters, I've had such great success with laser parts cut for me by businesses who are not at all in model aircraft.