There is such a wide gap on what everyone wants that it is hard to manufacture a kit to meet everyone's needs,
I personally prefer to purchase my own hardware, I have particular hinges,push rods,linkages etc: that I prefer to use and normally file 13 everything that is supplied with the kits as far as hardware goes. For me to spend $$$ on a kit it must look like a real airplane and have good quality wood and fiberglass parts. When you spend $100-$150 for a kit you must expect what you are paying for and deal with having to buy quality hardware and after market fiberglass cowls and wheel pants. The kit manufacturers are fighting with competing with ARF's and ity may just be a loosing battle by the looks of the recent decline in the numbers of kit suppliers. Look at the Top Flite giant scale warbirds, they take alot of work and modifications to make a nice scale plane and by the time you have done all of that you can build a plans built plane for the same money and effort. If you are looking to build a sport version with little time and money involved then the Top Flite birds are the way to go. Now that being said they are fitting the needs of some model builders but they are not filling my needs
Anthony