This should come in around #38 or abouts. I think all the posters here have given great answers especially for newbies/beginners to read. Heck, I even liked RCKen's answer -- take cover the sky might fall!

IMO, beginners have this opportunity to see just what could happen to them if they stay with this sport.
I would like to point out some things that may be a tad different.

As a youngster back before dirt, there was balsa with parts printed on it. There was also blank balsa and during WWII, there was cardboard with crude die-cutting parts. there was pine and such to carve parts.
Before I started to school, I fell in love with airplanes for reasons I cannot remember. Maybe it was because during the war and living far out in the country, we had lots of LOW level machines come flying by. I can still see that B-26 Maurader coming down the pasteur area, and taking out a few limbs off a Big Oak tree in the back yard. That certainly was a treat as I was blown off the back steps. [X(]

Whatever, I always wanted to be a pilot. Well I got to be one, 13 years USAF but that was like WORK. In 1968, I traded in the helmet and chute for the easy life of an airline pilot. Paid the bills but not really my love even though I did it for 28 years.

I simply loved MODEL AIRPLANES. Build others ideas from plans or kits or design your own. Do whatever YOU want to do, and not be hassled by what someone else thinks you should do. I did the competition thing in CL, FF, and RC. I did mostly sport because I always loved to do something different. I owned a Hobby Shop for 7 years, while flying airline, but that too was work. Cut into my personal modeling so I got rid of that.

In 1985 I went bass fishing for 4 years, but that was restrictive ref. wx. and conditions, yet I still fish some but modeling is first choice.

Where else Can you find something that is there to play with outside in GOOD WX or even bad wx if YOU so desire?

Where else can you find something that you can enjoy either alone or in a crowd, whichever YOU want to do on any given day on the field or in your workshop?

Where else can you find something that gives you the opportunity to create or just work with your hands at any time of the day or day of the week as YOU WANT to, either alone or with company as YOU select.

Where else can you, without a lot of study, play and learn engineering, math, wood-working, metal smithing, drawing, painting and a host of other bits, all at YOUR selection of when and how much.

The SPORT of MODEL AVIATION whatever disciplne/s you choose is the greatest of all simply because there is so much and so many different items that one can never be bored with the same old rut day after day if one should choose such. OTOH some modelers go all through life doing the same thing day after day, and if they so choose that route, then again they do what pleases them. That in itself can't be all bad.

The sport of model aviation was my chosen way of life, a _ell of a lot more than a "hobby".