Slic,
I started 23 years ago and built my first plane from a kit, there were no micro's or ARF's or RTF's back then., nor were there any simulators. I had to risk my $$ to learn to fly. I've planted my share of planes into the hard ground.

You don't learn much from building an ARF, you assemble it not build it. An RTF you will learn nothing.

Your statement you either fly or don't fly really made no sense in relation to what I said.