Hitcharide, I was re-crunching numbers while you quoted me to be more accurate with dates for a particular kit, so my quote change FYI. But I love that bit of info you just shared!
1984 Delta Super Eagle: $480
Todays price with inflation: $1,080
This is funny. We assume RC has gotten more expensive BUT ITS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I sometimes here this at the track: "You used to be able to by a car for $200 and now they are way too expensive"
The fact is its cheaper than it was, and the reason the hobby is not growing can more likely be attributed to video games, the changing culture, and the fact that fewer and fewer Americans know how to build things. Remember RC Cars (and Airplanes) grew out of the industrial revolution and military culture, at a time when huge numbers of Americans were mechanics, machinists and the like. PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED MORE THAN RC