The thing I think is missing from when I first started out in the hobby (3-4 years ago) is the availability of good, inexpensive, complete radio systems. I started out with a JR Sport S400 system, which you could buy complete with TX, RX, servos, batteries, chargers, switch harness, etc., for about $100. All the other brands had similar products. After my third plane, when I got tired of carrying around 3 TX's, I was able to get a complete 6 channel JR Sport SX600 computer radio with servos, etc.. for about $150. This radio has served all of my needs now for several years and I see no need to upgrade. These kinds of complete systems just don't seem to be on the market anymore.

I realize that there are advantages to going to 2.4 ghz systems, but it seems like it has really raised the cost of starting out in the hobby for those who aren't 100% sure they are going to stick with it. My $150 radio system is all I need for flying sport planes, combat, training, and my growing fleet of Mojos. I wish I had more than 10 model memory, but other than that, I'll be using it until it either breaks or the FCC takes away the 72 Mhz channels.