Originally posted by Dave Bowles
Because 15 years ago the "Hobby" was learning about Aviation, for Many it still is , but for a large amount of new people it is now just a Saturday Activity. The new Hobby Shops main objective is a good bottom line , not the advancement of the hobby like the Mom and Pop places, you use to be able to call almost ANY hobby store and get a question answered , Now in many places you are lucky if the sales clerk even knows what a Glow Plug is. For a large amount of people it is no longer a Hobby of Model Aviation but an activity of flying Radio Control airplanes, there is no commitment to the club or the hobby , just another object to put on the shelf until I want to play with it again, I have lots of Model Trains but I don't consider myself a Model Train Hobbyist. I can buy a Model Rocket and not be a Model Rocketry Hobbyist, you can buy a Radio Controled airplane and not be a Model Aviation Hobbyist.
You were very close, but missed the boat...er, I mean plane.
Someone who buys a model rocket may not be a hobbyis and someone who buys and builds an airplane kit then flys it once and moves on may not be a hobbyist. But, someone who sticks with it because they enjoy it, whether it is learning about the aviation part or simply flying the heck out of the plane once a month, is still a hobbyist, just like 25 years ago. It is still a hobby, and will always have varying levels of participation. Frankly, that is one of the great things about it.
And, before anyone asks, no, I still haven't made up my mind about the paid instructor/insurance issue.