way back on the day RC's were merely guildable free flight gliders so there wasn't much to learn if you could build a straight flying glider. They spent allot more time fiddling and building than they did flying.
Most started with free flight, then u-control and slope soarers then powered RC. With digital proportional control bought some better gear and eventually better engine. In those day you basically passed the transmitter back and forth. The main difference now is peoples impatience, They'll go out, buy a model, want to fly it now, crash it and never come back to the hobby. In your case your on your own land and are willing to spend the money so have at it, that isn't the norm.