Thank you for the reply, Lou, however maybe just a few quick explanations are in order. Yes, maybe I am somewhat confrontational, but usually only when faced with inequities that seem to happen between groups of good-'ol-boys and politics between "back-scratchers." I am an out-in-the-open personality and I don't make deals in the back room.
At the '73 Oskosh Nationals, I served as Man Power Director plus being Assistant CL Director under the late Bob Vojslavek, CL Director. A protest was filed in the Carrier event, overidden by the Event Director, who ruled for his action, the contestant appealed and it was passed up to me. I voted with the contestant, the ED then appealed to CLD Bob, which decided with the ED, I appealed to NATs Director Ron Morgan, and of course RM decided with the ED and CLD. I still think the Contestant was right with the rules that were then in the "Book". However, no ill feelings resulted.
I don't think I was challenging a fixed point. Actually I was upholding something not fixed at that time. IMO, if it's not prohibited, then it's legal.

Those that speak up to the right folks at the right time have tremendous clout over the masses. Your example is a good one, as those are the folks that will speak up to the right people at the right time. They are now operating at/near their maximum capacity and would have to go big time should they decide to get into another group of airplanes. That takes more time and bigger facilities so more investment. Just like owning a business, one can hardly be static for long. Either keep up with the changes and grow or go downhill.
Just look at the modeling situation now, compared to 30 years ago. First it was "Tower" subsidized by B. Paul, knocking the LHS and most distributors. Then, comes the Tower "owner", Great "Pains" who bought out WE's import rights to OS and ST, then went after all the U.S. kit mfgers. They basically owned it all. BUT, Look at the discount stuff now from other parts of the world. The GP hat is covering many spots, but they well feel the competition.
These garage operations will feel a pain when competition changes to require changes to their current form of operation.
Brodak can afford it, but will the others????

Not only an active modeler but I opened a Hobby Shop in Mt. Prospect, IL, in 1970, because I thought I was going to get furloughed from UAL. I started big with CL, however I quickly saw the handwriting on the wall, learned to fly RC, and became another RC shop. I saw how well used RC models sold, so I began finding what I could in ARFs as well as a very strict consignment program. DuBro had some for a while and there were the Lanier, all heavy and expensive. Then Hobby Shack in LA started importing some nice ARFs. I was buying as many as they would sell me, and selling them at 10% ABOVE HS's advertised price. Couldn't keep them in stock. It wasn't long before others were searching the market.
I also started importing the Hinode Radio, 27mhz. but I could sell it for $125.00. They went out fast. Finally I got shut down because they failed to meet certain FCC standards. Good while it lasted.
I leased out the HS in '74. Bad choice, but all worked out well. The individual went beyond bankrupt in 2 years, I came back, got it going again, it got too profitable to use as a tax deduction even under the very liberal laws of the Sub-Chapter S Corp. in the pre-Regan years. I sold it out, not as a business, but to a good guy that I was helping along getting established with a shop known as Venture Hobby in Wheeling. The place there is still operating but my friend, the original owner, is retired now as he sold out the business.
So, you see Lou, I have been around this sport for a while. Even just the process of Osmosis assures that I have some information about the trades.
I ,too, hope you are right. Note early on I said, effectively, that my absense from CL for so long makes me feel not qualified to get back big-time in rules discussions, and while I presented thoughts as requested, I am willing to learn present things.

Actually NO, I do not. I like to build more than fly. I am a lousy builder and painter, but I do it any way. In this society we live in today, very few new modelers will ever be builders, as compared to the number of fliers. It's our society. When I was a kid, I came home from school, did my chores (lived in the country on 40 acres and there were animals to care for) then went out back and flew CL, or went hunting, or fishing until dark. I copied my homework from some girls on the 20 minute bus ride to school in the AM.
Kids today do not have such options. Too many parent-pushed activities, too much homework, and not enough use of their minds for personal discipline rather than "....following the crowd..." which is easy.
Without ARFs, there would be a lot fewer people interested in modeling, and the world of electrics will make even fewer "modelers" just more tinkerers for a short while.

EDITED TO ADD: While I do have a couple RC Arfs flying plus an ARF Trainer, now a rebuilt one after a kid in the Club's TAG program got passed my limitations and crashed it big time, [], I don't do many ARFs because I prefer having something I built. OTOH, I recognize what ARFs do for aeromodeling along with the changes therein due to our changing world and society, so I say let them come.
Now as a real strong PAMPA member, Lou, just who makes the rules for Control Line Precision Aerobatics? Since almost all of the Contest Boards now are recommended to be made up by members of any applicable SIG, is there a member of the CL Aerobatic Board who is NOT a member of PAMPA? IMO, although not now connected as I once was, IMO it seems that PAMPA is responsible for removing the majority of your appearance points - which separates the pilot-built from the ARFs. In addition, I see the bonus points for the 1 minute start is gone. I loved that because my engines were choke - rotate prop - feel "BUMP" - signal - one flip and running, I ran to handle, checked up is up, signaled release and in 40 seconds from signal I was airborne. Who took that away? Someone selling fancy engines that don't always start with one flip??? That is, IMO, kind of like AMA now having a Marketing Committee composed of model industry executives: Don Anderson, Eric Meyers, & Jay Graves. [sm=72_72.gif]

Whether one likes it or not admits it or not, this whole thing has gone far beyond a bunch of good guys flying toy airplanes by any means be it CL, RC, indoor or what. I received my baptism of fire with the situations that brought AMA General Rules, Sanctioned Competition, paragraph 18, 18.1.b into play ref. the 3 day rule for protests. Then a well recognized name in aeromodeling, CDing a competition where individuals were working to get on a Team, actually went into the office at midnight, along with a buddy, and they "rechecked" the scores of the CL Stunt event. The administrators of the competition were unaware of this recheck until the next morning, when I was informed by the CD that the recheck placed the CD's buddy 1 point over me in CL stunt. [:-] The CD refused my protest because I had not filed it within 1 hour of the close of that event, the day prior. HOW? It had not happened then!
Well, that was passed on up the food chain, and heart-burn came into play. The 3-day rule resulted, but I remained 2nd Place in that event. OTOH that CD never got that well-paying CD job again, as long as that annual contest remained active.

Confrontational??? Well, don't make no stink, won't be no stink! Have a happy whatever makes you happy. [sm=thumbup.gif]