ORIGINAL: can773
You would think it would open the door to gas, but since the rules changes to unlimited engine displacement there has been well over 10 years of opportunity for gas to get a foothold....its never happened, and never likely to happen....it just doesn't compete with glow in this event. History shows us this is just not going to happen....higher weight limit will = larger models within the 2x2 framework with larger engines which = higher cost and less participants.
The problem with gas power is that it is marginal at the 5kg weight limit. Up that limit by 1kg or so and it becomes very reasonable. Also, it hasn't really happened yet because no manufacturer has really taken a run at a purpose built F3A gas engine (despite what ZDZ call their RE 40). Electric has taken off as the technology has matured but nobody has taken gas there yet. Probably won't either, given the extremely limited market available. I know I wouldn't want to try it myself.
Yes, smaller would be a tough sell at this point, but it may become necessary eventually to keep pattern off life support. I think the 3D ARF, instant gratification theory is part of it, too. It is just WAY cooler to watch someone hovering a 25-35% ARF down low compared to watching someone practicing any of the pattern schedules, even if the pattern flight is far more demanding than flipping a 3D plane around aimlessly. It's just a byproduct of our society and culture at the moment.
Mark