NM2K well said. I to have been at it awhile. One of my sayings, "in order to practice your flying, you've got to practice your building".
No, you don't crash ALL the time in order to gain expeirence, but, as always a learning curve, even with "quality" kits, instructions, etc. to GUIDE you, the builder is the final decison maker, and many, many times it comes from expeirence and seeing your results in a SAFE, flyable aircraft.
Yeah, I am familar with Orbit, buddies, of mine, 3 of them flew Orbit. One was featured in an ad, showing him flying with his antenna collasped while the plane was still in full control. And remember the "Digit Midget", Yep, the smell of fresh balsa and ambroid, oops, CA Yeah could go on and on, just got back out of the shop, readying a fresh .15 Mustang pylon racer. Have a good one.