RE: Benefits of giant scale?
I enjoy large models very much. Like most, I started small, and still enjoy my 48" sport plane. However, there is a great sense of accomplishment for me in seeing big model that I build in the air. Now, when I say "big", I truly don't think I"d enjoy some of the really LARGE 8'+ wingspan models, but I absolutely love my 6' Fokker Dr.1. It's large enough to get into IMAA meets and small enough for most club fields. It satisfies the "gas" urge, and still transports easily. It's scale in thr air and on the ground, and aerobatic enough to satisfy my "air carving" desires.
To me, large models ARE easier to build. Unless you go with the high end radios and the mucho bucko engines, the cost isn't that much more.
To me, it's interesting that you don't see many sport models in the "large" category, but many scale models. The reverse seems true for small models.