ARFs have really opened up the hobby to a lot of new people. It's a good thing for our hobby and will only increse the interest in and diversity for all of us. Many have argued that ARFs will kill the kits, but I don't think so. The same argument was made in the archery business (which I was in for 20+ years) when compound bows became all the rage in the late 1970s and 80s. People said the longbows, recurves and wood bows will not longer be made or offered as kits. That never happened because there are so many different types of people in the sport/hobby that still loved traditional bows. The compound bows just got more people into the sport and offered new people a way to get started easier. Sure compound bow have taken the majority of the market, but traditional bows are still as strong (actually much stronger) than ever. I think the ARFs will become the same thing and kits will still be there and will be even better with the new technology and materials that will be developed by the ARF market.


Jeff