I agree entirely with what you say, however there are some exciting things out there to do with limited requirements, and it this we should be fostering. They are entirely kosher and won't get anyone into strife. Look at what is being done at the universities...autonomy at its best.
If this was explained I.e. small and cheap is the way to go, with low level close range flights and so forth then he is most likely to stick around and maybe someday add to what we are aiming for. I am in no way an expert on autopilots. I am involved with MAV dynamics and flight in turbulence to PhD level, however am involved now with training university students to try to do what I am pushing here....small scale, cheap but not necessariky nasty applications. The guy starting this forum got excited. Who doesn't?? Let him know what is possible and realistic and get him started. This field is about getting creative and letting yourself dream.....and having fun with it.