Buddy boxes are widely used in the UK too and I much prefer them to either the Raglan "Crowd the trainee" method or the old-fashioned "Pass the box if you're in trouble, whoops too late" method . The reality is that a student can't start flying the entire flight immediately. Taking off and landing are not easy and passing the Tx around terrifies most students I've met. They don't like the idea that no-one is in charge while the Tx is changing hands. It also means that you can't use a Tx tray or neck strap (sounds a bit restrictive to me ).

I wouldn't call buddy boxes particularly restrictive on choice. Our club has buddy boxes available for Futaba/Hitec and JR. That covers the first choice of about 98% of all modellers round here.

Still it just comes down to personal choice. If you don't like 'em, don't use 'em.

Steve